LA Sports Hub
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: Who is going to be the starting point guard?

By Jon Soden

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 05: Alex Caruso #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 after scoring a three pointer against the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth quarter at Staples Center on April 05, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 05: Alex Caruso #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 after scoring a three pointer against the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth quarter at Staples Center on April 05, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Rajon Rondo

  • 2018-19 Stats (Lakers): 9.2 pts, 5.3 rbs, 8.0 ast, 2.8 tov, 29.8 min

Advantages

Rajon Rondo has two major advantages that Caruso and Cook do not come close to—passing and experience.

Rondo has been one of the best passers of this generation and has always made it his primary focus to get his teammates open shots. Additionally, his passing might be even more useful this season on the Lakers; the new roster has been constructed with an emphasis around shooting, so Rondo will have more viable shooting options to pass to.

LeBron James has always preferred experience over youth, and no one on the Lakers (other than LeBron) has more experience than Rondo. This experience will prove to be valuable in big games, as Rondo is a savvy veteran who has been around the block.

No one would have expected me to put this in the advantages section, but I think it deserves to be mentioned. And that is Rondo’s shooting. Now, in no sense do I think that Rondo is a great shooter, however, Rondo receives the reputation of being an atrocious shooter, which he honestly has not been for a few years.

Just this past year, he shot at 35.9% from three, which was higher than the league average of 35.5%. This was not a single-year fluke either, as he has shot the ball at 35.8% from deep over the past 4 seasons, and has done so while shooting 2.4 three-point attempts per game. While his shooting may not be a strong point, it should also not be considered a liability.

Disadvantages 

Okay, okay, I still have to include Rondo’s shooting as a disadvantage. However, it is not to say he is a terrible shooter, but that he is a worse shooter than both Cook and Caruso. And with LeBron, shooting becomes a very important aspect in regards to playing time.

If Rondo does not start or get the minutes he feels he deserves, where will that leave him as a teammate? When he had issues with the Mavericks, it turned into a complete and utter disaster, where the Mavs reportedly pretended that he had an injury so they could bench him.

There is already an extreme spotlight on the Lakers heading into this season, and if Rondo is unhappy, it could be blown out of proportions by the media and affect the team negatively.

Another issue with Rondo is how he fits with LeBron. While not a volume scorer, Rondo is still a very ball-dominant point guard that needs the ball in his hands to be effective. LeBron will in some way always be a point guard when he is on the court, and the numbers prove that its a bad fit with Rondo on the court.

In fact, Rondo was the only player on the Lakers last season to have a lower efficiency rating with LeBron on the court. Caruso and Cook both have the ability to play off-ball with LeBron, which may hurt Rondo’s chances of starting.

Prediction

Given his experience, and because he is a leader of the team, it is reasonable to assume that Rondo will get the start on opening night.

As the season goes on, and especially if his low efficiency continues with LeBron, he will most likely come off the bench. It could become a win-win scenario for both the Lakers and Rondo.

Rondo’s strengths can be maximized, as he would become a general of the second unit, where he would command the ball and be a primary playmaker. Rondo just has be on board with this, and his veteran experience could help to lead a deadly second unit.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers