Lakers death lineup to close out games...

[dockingsched]

So Magic spoke about Jordan Clarkson earlier and set the goal that he be 6th man of the year. At the same time, he explained that although he won't start games, he expects Clarkson to be on the court to finish games.

If that's the case, and making the easy assumption that Ball and Ingram are going to be out there too, the lakers are either planning to have KCP ride the bench to close out games or they're thinking about a small ball death lineup with 4 wings on the floor.

Assuming the latter is the case, who do see as the center for such a lineup?

Randle brings the rebounding that will be needed while being able to lead the break with four wings flanking him. Although his ball handling may be mitigated with 4 wings on the floor. He also doesn't provide the defense you'd be looking for or adequate spacing.

Nance provides for a more versatile defensive strategy, but doesn't provide the spacing others could, or the rebounding Randle could.

Lopez gives you the best spacing, but leaves you weak on the boards and creates a weak link when switching on defense.

Kuzma gives you the spacing and ball handling, also gives you ability to switch on d. Doesn't bring the size, rebounding of Randle, or rim protection of say Lopez.

Zubac was just thrown in case you still like his potential.

[Michael Lucky]

Randle makes the most sense by far in such a lineup. Someone has to be able to grab a rebound and he's far more athletic than Lopez when it comes to running the break.

[KobeBryant24]

Randle makes the most sense by far in such a lineup. Someone has to be able to grab a rebound and he's far more athletic than Lopez when it comes to running the break.

Lay ups and dunks all day for our opponent

[PKABOOICU]

I voted Randle because he simply still has the most upside of any player. He's not going to pan out into the next Draymond Green or Lamar Odom like we hoped, but the potential is still there.

Kuzma has been pleasantly surprising so far. He's a better prospect than Nance already simply due to his ability to hit the Jumper.

Nance is OK. I dont see him in the Lakers future plans anyway.

Zubac is just about a bust.

[Edrees]

Calling it a death line-up is a bit of a stretch. Sure against other non-playoff teams it can be, but if we can find a lineup that allows us to stay within 10 pts of the best teams in the league and occasionally steal one i'll be happy.

I do get what your'e asking though as in what's our best 4th quarter line-up when we have a lead. I meant to vote Lopez but accidently picked Kuzma.

[Ball so hard]

Voted Nance.

You have to take most things Magic says with a pitcher of salt. With that being said, I think that 4 wing lineup would be terrible. There's really no point in having Clarkson in that lineup. Clarkson doesn't provide anything that the other 3 wing doesn't already provide. I'd rather see a lineup of Ball, KCP, Ingram, Kuzma, and Nance as our "death lineup". Every single player in this lineup can switch on defense without being a major liability. I also think rebounding would be fine in that lineup; they're all at worst, average rebounders for their positions so a team effort on the glass would be needed. Randle is not capable of playing center.

[Ball so hard]

I voted Randle because he simply still has the most upside of any player. He's not going to pan out into the next Draymond Green or Lamar Odom like we hoped, but the potential is still there.

Kuzma has been pleasantly surprising so far. He's a better prospect than Nance already simply due to his ability to hit the Jumper.

Nance is OK. I dont see him in the Lakers future plans anyway.

Zubac is just about a bust.

With regard to a "death lineup", "upside" is almost meaningless. The point of a death lineup is to win ball games (immediate benefit) and not to develop (ones upside) for the future.

Nance is more included in our future than Randle is.

Based on draft position alone, it is not possible for Zubac to be a bust.

[Slava]

With Lopez's ability to make a shot over anyone in the league it would be unwise to not have him on offensive possessions. Switching him with a more mobile defender for defensive match ups can be done on a case to case basis by wisely planning time outs.

[Penberthy]

Death Line Up

Ball
Ingram
George
Bron
Lopez

[Penberthy]

I voted Randle because he simply still has the most upside of any player. He's not going to pan out into the next Draymond Green or Lamar Odom like we hoped, but the potential is still there.

Kuzma has been pleasantly surprising so far. He's a better prospect than Nance already simply due to his ability to hit the Jumper.

Nance is OK. I dont see him in the Lakers future plans anyway.

Zubac is just about a bust.

It is mathematically impossible for a 20 year old, 2nd year, 32nd pick to be a bust. Based on last years regular season performance AGAINST OTHER NBA PLAYERS, he would damn near be a lottery pick in this years draft.

Nance has a better shot than Randle to be in the Lakers future plans.

[tugs]

You'd want a high energy, all around big at the 5 spot, whose main goal should be rim protection. The only players I can think about who fit the criteria are Nance and Bryant. But having Randle's ballhandling makes everything so much easier for everyone whenever he gets rebounds and run the breaks. He's also a match up nightmare for opposing C's.

Variations of my 5 would be:

Clarkson/Ball
KCP/Clarkson
Ingram/KCP
Randle/Ingram
Nance/Randle

A Ginobili type role to end games for JC I think is the best template to follow.

[BEazy]

I think we can put out many death line ups TBH. If we're playing against a predominantly small ball team then we can put Julius at C. If we are playing a team with a lot of versatile players we put Brook in for paint protection.

[PKABOOICU]

I voted Randle because he simply still has the most upside of any player. He's not going to pan out into the next Draymond Green or Lamar Odom like we hoped, but the potential is still there.

Kuzma has been pleasantly surprising so far. He's a better prospect than Nance already simply due to his ability to hit the Jumper.

Nance is OK. I dont see him in the Lakers future plans anyway.

Zubac is just about a bust.

It is mathematically impossible for a 20 year old, 2nd year, 32nd pick to be a bust. Based on last years regular season performance AGAINST OTHER NBA PLAYERS, he would damn near be a lottery pick in this years draft.

Nance has a better shot than Randle to be in the Lakers future plans.

Believe me, Ive seen 18 year old, 1st picks be busts before...let alone a 20 year old 32nd.

[Mirjalovic]

a low pick player can not be a bust, unless they sign a gigantic contract

[danfantastk32]

Zubac is just about a bust.

It is mathematically impossible for a 20 year old, 2nd year, 32nd pick to be a bust. Based on last years regular season performance AGAINST OTHER NBA PLAYERS, he would damn near be a lottery pick in this years draft.

You know, thank you. That guy's post was outright laughable.

We pick up some 2nd-round foreign project (no college), and he comes in and plays pretty damn good. 38 games...and 16 minutes per game....what do people want from the guy? I mean Jesus....bust?? He wasn't even supposed to play for us that season. In what world is this guy a bust? Just asinine.

If anyone cares to be intellectually honest....go compare last years 2nd pick in the draft, to Zubac. Especially since said 2nd pick got to play almost double the minutes. Go compare at a "per 36minutes".....and it's borderline brutal.

But Zubac's the bust....ok.

*ps* don't think #2 is a bust either.....just sayin

[ROballer]

Magic says a lot a **** dumb things. He probably didn't want to upset Clarkson more than he already did by basically pegging him to a bench role from the start.

No way we're playing Ball/Clarkson/KCP/Ingram at the same time to close games out. We won't get any stops.


Ball/KCP/Ingram/Kuzma/ Lopez or Nance(don't care) is the REAL lineup who should finish games.

Shooting and some semblance of defense.

[Lakernut4ever]

Death Line Up

Ball
Ingram
George
Bron
Lopez

Maybe next season

[SlimShady83]

Wouldn't this come down tooo

What team we are playing at the time
Are we ahead or behind in close games?

If behind I'd want JC for the scoring ability
If ahead KCP???

[SlimShady83]

Wouldn't this come down tooo

What team we are playing at the time
Are we ahead or behind in close games?

If behind I'd want JC for the scoring ability
If ahead KCP???

Oh wait soz didn't include rest of line up and read the Jc thread posted here too lOL

[dAdo dA dEvil]

Voted Kuz because he can defend and stretch the floor and grab boards too. But I doubt it will be him closing out the game. It'll still probably be Blo playing the 5. Plus Kuz being a rookie works against him considering we have a lot of bigs to choose from.