While JJ Redick said the same five who started last night’s game against the Kings would start next Tuesday night’s home season opener against the Warriors, he wouldn’t commit who would be the starters after that game.
Barring LeBron James return from injury or a needed blockbuster trade, there’s an argument the Lakers should change their fifth starter each game to better optimize their starting lineup matchups against each opponent. The Lakers already know their starting lineup and rotation is going to be temporary, problematic, and vulnerable next month without LeBron so why not use different fifth starters to create better starting matchups?
For example, Redick might prefer Gabe Vincent as the Lakers’ fifth starter versus the Warriors because he’s an excellent matchup against Steph Curry due to his aggressive point-of-attack defense and red hot 3-point shooting.
Come Friday night against two-big Timberwolves, JJ could prefer to match up with Minnesota’s oversized lineup and start 6′ 8′ Jarred Vanderbilt, who’s had excellent success in the past guarding the Anthony ‘Ant Man’ Edwards.
There’s no question the Lakers need to start Doncic, Reaves, Hachimura, and Ayton but, depending on whom they’re playing and the matchups, Vincent, Vanderbilt, or Smart could easily be the team’s fifth starter.
With multiple contenders in the West rolling out two-bigs lineups, the Lakers could even find themselves starting Hayes or Kleber next to Ayton in a two-bigs lineup when they play a team like the Rockets or Mavericks.
Until LeBron returns or Pelinka pulls the trigger on a trade, the Lakers would be smart to abandon a fixed starting lineup and deploy different fifth starters to better match up against each opponent’s starting lineup.
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