Jarred Vanderbilt’s Newfound Role as the Backup Center
The Lakers’ center depth has been an issue, but Vanderbilt’s debut on Wednesday made all the difference.
The Lakers have started the season strong, going 4-1 in their first 5 games. According to Kirk Goldsberry, an NBA analyst at The Ringer, the Lakers have the 5th-best net rating and the 2nd-best offense in the NBA.
The defensive concerns remain, though, with the team ranking just 17th in defense.
It’s no surprise the Lakers’ defense falls off a cliff when Walker Kessler heads to the bench. Kevon Looney has already fallen out of the rotation, with Jarred Vanderbilt coming in to take his place. Looney just hasn’t been able to provide the rebounding and defense needed when Kessler isn’t out there.
Vando and Mamu
The Lakers have also played Mamukelashvili as a small-ball center in stretches. But incorporating Jarred Vanderbilt at center next to Mamu, while still a small 1-game sample size, already looks like the clear option going forward.
Lineups with Mamu and Looney on the floor together put out a -19.2 net rating. While Mamu and Vando together against the Clippers were a +62.6. Vando’s speed and quickness immediately stood out as he applied the intense defensive pressure he’s best known for and chased down rebounds, an area the Lakers have struggled with this season.
Coach JJ Redick talked postgame after the win vs. the Clippers on Vanderbilt playing minutes at center:
“My conversations with Vando last year were a lot about putting him in a position to succeed and wanted to play him less at the five…I think he’s better suited, obviously, to be more of a wing and a forward and be out on the perimeter defensively. But there’s going to be moments where he’s going to, by necessity, have to play some five.”
It will be interesting to see how JJ Redick utilizes Vando as the season goes on and how he experiments with different lineups that he could be a part of.
Perhaps a pairing of Vanderbilt and Kessler could prove to be intriguing defensively despite the spacing issues.
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Categorized:Lakers