The Los Angeles Lakers are the best team in the Western Conference after the NBA resumed action in Orlando, Florida. At 52-19, the Lakers gamble to trade for Anthony Davis has paid off. Los Angeles has won fifteen more games than last season thanks to the unstoppable combination of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers accomplished this despite playing eleven games less than in 2018-2019.
LeBron has taken over L.A.’s point guard duties and leads the NBA in assists per game at 10.2. Many of LeBron’s assists have been to former Georgia Bulldog great Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
KCP is averaging only 9.3 points per game, but he is doing so at the most efficient clip of his career. KCP is shooting 46.7% from the field and 38.5% from three point territory this season. Each of these numbers are the best of his seven season NBA career.
The Lakers desperately need Caldwell-Pope’s defense and shooting this postseason. His improved efficiency will be key for the Lakers. Caldwell-Pope may be tasked with defending Portland’s Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum in the first round of the playoffs, if the Trailblazers defeat the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in game for the eight seed in the Western Conference.
Caldwell-Pope will play a large role in the playoffs because Avery Bradley elected not to participate in the NBA’s return. Yes, Los Angeles signed J.R. Smith and Dion Waiters, but that duo doesn’t have KCP’s chemistry with the Lakers starting lineup. The Georgia Bulldog great, KCP, will have the most pressure he’s ever faced in his NBA career.
KCP’s significant workload in the NBA postseason will be something we haven’t seen out of a Georgia Bulldog in quite sometime. It’ll be fun to watch for UGA fans moving forward!
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