Los Angeles Lakers Announce Key Decision on Starting Lineup

The Los Angeles Lakers may have thought of changing the starting lineup. Many fans and analysts thought that Lakers head coach will go with a different unit in Game 2 against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Well, Vogel will go with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Danny Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and JaVale McGee. This is the normal starting lineup for the Lakers.

Kyle Kuzma will come off the Lakers bench again. But, he is more than ready to start games if Vogel calls his name.

“Me being confident, I’m saying yes,” Kuzma said. “But I’m not the coach. I’m just a player, so I just kind of do whatever they ask me to do. That’s my job: just starring my role, playing with effort and enthusiasm, and if they call on me to start, then obviously, you’ve seen what I’ve done and what I do. I just come in and try to be myself, play fun and play free-spirited.”

The Lakers will go with the same lineup

When Kuzma starts games, he averages more than 20 games per game. His game sure makes him the third option for the team. Kuzma joins the starting five only when some of the starters are injured. In Game 1 against Portland, Kuzma went 4-of-15 from the field in 30 minutes on the floor.

LeBron, KCP, Green, AD and McGee will start again in Game 2. Rajon Rondo will remain inactive tonight. “He’s gotta get his legs under him,” said Vogel.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) August 20, 2020

The Lakers had a bad shooting in the first game of the round. Caldwell-Pope and Green combined for 11 points. They were shooting a combined 2-13 on 3-pointers. LA shot 15.6 percent from beyond the arc and 35.1 percent for the game.

“Defense wasn’t the issue,” Green said. “Offensively we’ve got to get back to ourselves, find our rhythm, push the pace, make our open shots. We’re getting a couple open ones, could probably get some more, but making open shots — myself included especially — I’ve got to do a better job staying out of foul trouble so I can keep a rhythm.”

The Lakers head coach will re-evaluate the gameplan from game-to-game. Vogel will gladly change the starting unit if the situation requires him to do that. The original starting unit may see some changes later in the series.

Frank Vogel says he will keep the same starting lineup and that Rajon Rondo is inactive for Game 2 vs. POR

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) August 20, 2020

Rajon Rondo feels great and his recovery is going well. The Lakers listed him as questionable for Game 2, but he won’t suit up for the game.