It should be to no one’s surprise that LeBron James and Anthony Davis filled the box score Saturday night in Game 3 against Portland. The two superstars combined for 67 points, 23 rebounds and 16 assists. Light work.
Alex Caruso, the Lakers’ back-up point guard, has arguably been their third-best player this series, however. He’s averaging just five points a game — eighth on the team among players who have played in all three contests — but his defensive prowess has been astounding and his playmaking ability, complimentary to James’, instrumental.
He’s posted a +33 plus/minus through the first three games, too, for those of you who are analytics freaks. Additionally, his 2.6:1 assist-to-turnover ratio is a team-best. Caruso’s clearly getting it done on the court. Let’s look at how.
Caruso clamps
The 26-year-old, second-year Laker has been assigned to guard superstar Damian Lillard, who was the hottest player entering the postseason. This is no easy task. Through three games, Lillard is averaging 28.7 PPG. Although, he’s shooting just under 42 percent from the floor.
Caruso is doing his best to make life tough for the Bubble MVP, often picking up Dame full court and stepping up to him as soon he crosses half court. The 6-foot-5 guard also attempts to fight over screens without fouling and tries to run Lillard off the three-point line.
Stopping Lillard isn’t possible, for the record. One can only hope to limit him. But Caruso has held his ground effectively, so far, ranking second among eligible players in defensive efficiency rating during the playoffs.
The Lakers reserve is fairly disciplined, too. We rarely see him bite on pump fakes from Lillard or CJ McCollum. His teammates Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have become accustomed to doing this. Caruso, on the other hand, seldom leaves his feet and continues to impress with his lateral quickness and ability to anticipate plays.
As you watch Game 4 Monday on “Mamba Day,” notice how Caruso locks in defensively and moves his feet, using his chest to get into Lillard while avoiding reaching in.
Playmaking
At Texas A&M, Caruso averaged 4.7 assists in 137 career games, per Sports-Reference. In three games against the Blazers, he’s hovering right under that mark at 4.3 APG.
He isn’t the quickest guy with the ball, nor is he the shiftiest. But Caruso can initiate the offense, and Frank Vogel asks him to do so when LeBron is on the bench. He also serves as a secondary creator when the two share the court.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 23, 2020
Davis, the Lakers leading scorer in the early postseason (29.3 PPG), benefited a great deal from Caruso’s playmaking in the second half Saturday night. Three-straight possessions in the mid-fourth quarter ended in mid-range jumpers by Davis. All three shots were assisted by the second-unit point guard.
Caruso would finish the game with seven assists– a series-high for him. But he also does the little things such as moving without the ball and setting screens. He shows that here by setting a pick for Davis which leads to an easy flush for the big man.
Alex Caruso probes the paint and passes the ball out to AD and cracking Whiteside with a ball screen, then AD drives to the rim and finishes through contact for the And-1. @Lakers up 89-78. pic.twitter.com/0S2wqGVzz3
— Laker Film Room (@LakerFilmRoom) August 23, 2020
Lakers fans would love to see Caruso knock down more open threes (he finally made one in the third quarter of Game 3), but that would only be a bonus for a guy who’s already impacting the game in a variety of ways.
And with Rajon Rondo returning soon, Caruso needs to continue to show his worth to avoid a minutes reduction. I like his chances.
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