Watch: Alex Caruso With a Chase-Down Block on James Harden

The Los Angeles Lakers are having a really good game against the Houston Rockets. They lost Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, and things changed overnight. LA won three straight games, and they need one more win to make the Western Conference Finals. It’s an important night for Lakers players. Houston won’t give up without a good fight. However, Alex Caruso and his block on James Harden share a different story.

Caruso is an excellent player and his last two seasons are brilliant. The young Laker had a healthy defense whether on or off the ball. He attacks players and rotates at the perfect moments without any trouble. Caruso is great off the basketball, and Frank Vogel has praised his ability to do both. His offense is equally spectacular. Caruso cuts to the hoop when his teammates need him to do so. He sets screens at opportune times to provide balls for his teammates. Caruso rotates to the best spot on the perimeter. Sometimes he cuts to the rim to get open shots when defensive players focus on LeBron James.

Alex Caruso will do another block on James Harden

In his games against the Rockets, Caruso has been more than brilliant. He recorded 16 points in Game 4, and is averaging 9.3 points on 58.3% shooting and 45.0% from 3, after going for 5.4 points on 38.1% FG’s and 20.0% 3’s against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Lakers head coach Vogel is more than impressed.

“Alex shot almost 50 percent from three last year, so I have a lot of confidence in his perimeter shot,” he said. “But he does everything else. His shooting is about 10th on the list of positive things he does for our basketball team. He’s an elite defender that can guard multiple positions. There are so many defenders that you’re either a great containment guy or you’re elite in the passing lanes with deflections and steals, and he’s both. And then he takes charges and has great verticality plays. What he does for our defense is immeasurable. And his versatility offensively is a huge plus for us as well. His ability to play off the basketball, to make plays on the bounce, to run the point. Again, just great offensive versatility as well.”