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The Los Angeles Lakers have surged to the top of the league standings, and are doing so in effortless fashion. With a league-leading 20-3 (0.870) win-loss record, LeBron James and Co. are just obliterating every team standing their way. Their latest win over the Portland Trail Blazers stretched their road winning streak to an emphatic total of 11 games.
But there's more to this team than just LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The dynamic duo has been surrounded by a well-assembled support crew that has been functioning to perfection at a consistent rate. As a result, the roster seems deeper on court than it does on paper.
The role players have played a pivotal role in making this a top 5 squad on both ends of the floor. Let's take a look at the three Lakers players who have broken out of their shells to provide vital support for this team.
#1 Dwight Howard
Coming off a potentially career-damaging year in Washington, Dwight Howard was in desperate need of a resurgent run this season. When DeMarcus Cousins went down, the Lakers front office decided to gamble with this man, and thankfully it turned out to be their second best off-season move this year.
The 8-time All-Star has been coming off the bench for LA and is recording 7 points, 7 rebounds and 1.4 swats per matchup. As a backup center, his presence in the paint has been intimidating for opponents trying to get easy buckets driving to the hoop.
Playing almost 20 minutes per contest, Howard's reunion with the Lakers has been nothing short of a fairytale.
His impact and energy on the floor in contesting shots along with his involvement and support for the squad while he's on the bench have led to a healthy locker room for the title contenders.
#2 Alex Caruso
Working his way up from the South Bay Lakers - Lakers' G-League affiliate - Alex Caruso has been a menace for opponents down the stretch. Amongst players who get at least 20 minutes per game, Caruso has the league's fourth best defensive rating in 95.5, which is pretty commendable this early in the season.
"Caruso is a star defender. I think he's elite," Vogel told Mike Trudell. "When you study him on tape or just watch him in summer workouts, you see he has pretty good feet and good length. But there are a lot of 6'5" defenders that you think should be great defenders cause they're long, but they're not good defenders. But Alex is. He has great instincts and that's the biggest thing with him."
The 25-year-old is only averaging 5.2 points, 2 boards and 1.9 assists per game, but his defensive acumen has persuaded LA Lakers Coach Frank Vogel to insert him in whenever he has wanted to turn up the intensity defensively.
His monstrous put-backs have found a special place in the hearts of basketball fans while his lock-down defense has drawn accolades from the game's experts.
#3 Rajon Rondo
After missing the first 10 games of the season, Rajon Rondo was itching to get back on the floor and contribute for the purple-and-gold. The backup point guard has been an integral part of the second unit, dropping a career-high 53% of his three-point shots this year. Aided by his mature shot selection, his shooting has seen a massive improvement.
Moreover, the 4-time All-Star is averaging 8.5 points, 3.5 boards and 5.8 dimes per game, putting together valuable minutes for his team while the stars take a breather. He is reading the defense sharply and lobbing passes with meticulous precision, something that is helping LA keep their foot on the gas throughout the 48 minutes.
Rondo has been a reliable floor general for the team when LeBron and AD have decided to play at the post. He is pesky, and brings veteran championship mentality to the Lakers squad.
