{"id":112482,"date":"2024-12-16T11:18:29","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T16:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=112482"},"modified":"2024-12-16T11:18:29","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T16:18:29","slug":"the-lakers-may-have-found-their-fifth-starter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/16\/the-lakers-may-have-found-their-fifth-starter\/","title":{"rendered":"The Lakers May Have Found Their Fifth Starter"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Lakers<\/a>\u2019 starting lineup has fluctuated throughout the first quarter of the season, with JJ Redick struggling to get his team into a flow with injuries and other absences. Prior to the team\u2019s game against the red hot Memphis Grizzlies, he outlined <\/span>what the ideal fifth starter looks like<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c…ideally, we\u2019d want that fifth guy to be a complementary piece to the other four guys. And that complementary piece most likely looks like a point-of-attack defender. A guy that doesn\u2019t need the ball in his hands. He\u2019s gonna play hard, he\u2019s gonna pick up fullcourt. Could shoot 3\u2019s. So yeah, we\u2019re trying to find some level of consistency for the group. And that fifth guy, if there\u2019s somebody that can sort of find consistency individually, we\u2019d like that spot to remain with the same guy.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One particular Laker played that role to a tee last night, leading many to wonder if he\u2019s the missing piece to their complicated puzzle.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Lakers May Have Found Their Fifth Starter<\/b><\/h2>\n

Boosting the First Five to the \u201cMax\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n

After two years mostly stuck on the bench, <\/span>Max Christie<\/span><\/a> has been given more freedom under Redick. The 21-year-old former Michigan State Spartan is averaging 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20.3 minutes per game, and he recorded his third straight start and fourth of the season last night against Memphis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Christie<\/a> finished with seven points, two rebounds, one assist and one block against the Grizzlies, but even more impressive was his torture-chamber-like defense on star <\/span>Ja Morant<\/span><\/a>. Morant may have scored 20 points, but he did so on 6\/21 shooting from the field in 31 minutes\u2014a testament to Christie\u2019s effort containing him throughout the night.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Max Christie was phenomenal as a POA defender vs Ja Morant<\/p>\n

Displayed good lateral agility + vertical contests<\/p>\n

Slotting Max w\/appropriate defensive matchups is paramount IMO<\/p>\n

Can be really impactful when not facing a size\/strength deficit vs wings and bigger guards pic.twitter.com\/t73tEZSBLS<\/a><\/p>\n

— LAbound (@LAbound2) December 16, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n