Los Angeles Lakers: Why LA is the perfect team to play positionless
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers are so deep in talent that most of the basketball being played will be positionless, something the team will undoubtedly thrive at.
Last season, the Los Angeles Lakers were a group of young players that had promise but were far away from being a playoff team in the stacked Western Conference. As we head into this season, the Lakers are a mixed bag of veterans and young stars that will produce some of the most entertaining basketball this season.
The team really has a bit of everything. In terms of youth, the Lakers have a core four of Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma to build around. Rookies Moritz Wagner and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk could very well join that discussion as well.
In terms of veterans, the Lakers are banking on LeBron James, Rajon Rondo, Michael Beasley and JaVale McGee to lead the team. Beasley and McGee are interesting vets, Rondo and James are as valuable as it comes.
In between is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who has five years of NBA experience under his belt and is still just 25 years old.
The Lakers are deep in some areas and thin in others. However, most of the Lakers’ roster has been built with a kind of flexibility similar to a baseball team, like the Los Angeles Lakers.
Within the roster are guys that can play two or even three positions effectively. This will lead to there being a mix-match of groups that are trotted out each game.
With all of the depth, the Lakers are looking to play a positionless style of basketball this season.
While other teams do run interesting groups (Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics) the Los Angeles Lakers might be the most extreme example of this yet. The best part? The team will thrive at it. Here is why.