Rajon Rondo (calf) questionable vs. Clippers, Caruso probable

LeBron James may have no choice but to be the engine that makes things go for the Los Angeles Lakers in Tuesday night’s opener as the team could be without guard Rajon Rondo.

Rondo is considered questionable for the season-opener, which may force head coach Frank Vogel’s hand to put LeBron James in the starting line-up without another point guard. But the Lakers also got some good news, as Alex Caruso is now listed as probable to play tomorrow and Quinn Cook is available, though he could be on a minutes limit.

Via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin

Lakers say that Rondo (sore calf) is questionable, Caruso (bruised pelvis) is probable and Cook is available however Vogel said he would be congnizant of Cook’s workload. As for other players’ minutes, Vogel said he’ll treat it like a midseason game – no restrictions.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 21, 2019

Only twice during the preseason did Frank Vogel use the same starting lineup and both times, Rondo was not a fixture. Vogel went with a line-up of LeBron James, Avery Bradley, Danny Green, Anthony Davis and JaVale McGee in the two games he used the same line-up, but the head coach is playing coy with the media by saying he is keeping his options open for the starting line-up on Tuesday, or even beyond.