According to stats.nba.com, the two-man lineup of LeBron James and Alex Caruso has posted a net score of +16.1 in the 233 minutes theyve played together. The only two-man lineups that have a higher net rating on the Lakers (minimum 200 minutes played) are LeBron James and Danny Green, and Anthony Davis and Danny Green.
In the best circumstance, Caruso can shine as a role player, and theres perhaps no much better circumstance for him than with the Lakers, where he gets to play off of LeBron James. Unlike Caruso, James runs mostly with the ball in his hands, and when James has the ball, he wants to rewards his colleagues that make the right plays, whether its setting a screen, cutting to the basket or getting open for a shot. Thats where Caruso comes in.
Alex Caruso is an intriguing gamer. Hes proficient at defending and running as a secondary playmaker, but hes not a fantastic ball-handler or shooter, which makes it tough to build an offense around him. Thats probably why he went undrafted in 2016.
Regardless of James initially having no idea who Caruso was when he signed with the Lakers, their pairing has been a discovery for the group this season. During a current interview with Ben Cohen of the Wall Street Journal, James discussed he believes he and Caruso have been so successful together:
Alex Caruso is an interesting gamer. In the right scenario, Caruso can shine as a function gamer, and theres perhaps no better situation for him than with the Lakers, where he gets to play off of LeBron James. Unlike Caruso, James operates primarily with the ball in his hands, and when James has the ball, he looks to rewards his colleagues that make the right plays, whether its setting a screen, cutting to the basket or getting open for a shot. Thats where Caruso comes in.
When you think of players that are on the very same level as James when it comes to basketball IQ, you generally believe of players like Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul, not Alex Caruso– at least not. James felt a connection with Caruso early on, and he thinks that connection will only get much better as Caruso grows as a gamer.
” I believe Alex Caruso is a real meaning of when chance fulfills preparation,” James stated after the Lakers Western Conference Finals-clinching win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. “Hes been preparing for this minute for a long time and he simply required chance. Hes simply taking complete benefit of that.
” I gravitate towards players like that ideal away, since the video game, everybody talks about the physical side, and how high you can jump and how quick you can run and all those things. The mental side is what gets you to the next level,” James said.
” Were one and the exact same when it comes to winning basketball,” James stated. “To see our chemistry together … I think it includes our minds.”
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” I think Alex Caruso is a real meaning of when opportunity fulfills preparation,” James said after the Lakers Western Conference Finals-clinching win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
Every game is still a finding out experience for him since hes so brand-new to the NBA. He played a lot of his minutes over the course of his early phases in the G League. It was the way that he protected and how cerebral he played the game.”
Those qualities resulted in a fast and simple connection between them.
Caruso and James may not be the most apparent pairing, however they work well together, type of like ketchup and scrambled eggs. Dont knock it until you attempt it!
Caruso still has a few things that he can deal with that would make him a better healthy next to James, including, however not limited to, his 3-point shot, however he seems to have the regard and trust of the star, which is something that he most likely didnt even anticipate entering into the season.
