Armed with a somewhat new roster, the Los Angeles Lakers begin the stretch run of the 2022-23 regular season on Thursday by hosting the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
Despite their struggles of late, the Lakers are within striking distance of not only a play-in tournament spot but also a spot in the top six of the Western Conference, which would mean bypassing the play-in tournament and making the playoffs outright.
In L.A.’s last game, head coach Darvin Ham went with a starting lineup that featured three of the team’s newcomers: D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley in the backcourt and Jarred Vanderbilt at one forward spot alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
It appears Ham will stick with that lineup for the foreseeable future.
Via Los Angeles Times:
“The starting lineup Ham used during the Lakers’ last game before the All-Star Game against the (New Orleans) Pelicans featured James, Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley and is expected to become the norm.”
That lineup worked well. The Lakers won, 120-102, while shooting 53% from the field and tallying 32 assists.
Many have clamored for Vanderbilt, an energetic player who has shown tremendous defensive potential and is a good rebounder, to be moved into the starting lineup. He has shown an ability to effectively guard wings and forwards on the perimeter, which can give James some rest on the defensive end and allow him to save more of his energy for offense.
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