Hoops Habit
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: Evaluating the team’s 5 big-men lineups

By Jacob Zinkula

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 27: Marc Gasol #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers during introductions before playing the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center on December 27, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty aImages License Agreement. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 27: Marc Gasol #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers during introductions before playing the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center on December 27, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty aImages License Agreement. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

The Los Angeles Lakers have three primary big men in Anthony Davis, Marc Gasol and Montrezl Harrell. How should their minutes be distributed going forward?

The Los Angeles Lakers had several interesting subplots last season on their road to an NBA championship. When it came to head coach Frank Vogel’s coaching decisions, however, there was maybe no development more intriguing than his deployment of the team’s three primary big men: Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee.

McGee played a significant role last regular season, starting alongside Davis and averaging 16.6 minutes per game. Howard averaged slightly more minutes coming off the bench (18.9), seeing a much higher proportion as the lone big on the floor. Davis averaged 34.4 minutes, roughly splitting time as the lone big (854 minutes) and with McGee (849), while seeing 428 minutes with Howard.

light. Related Story. Lakers: 3 New Year's resolutions for 2021

The Davis at center lineups — particularly those including LeBron James — were of particular interest to Lakers fans. Many felt these were the team’s strongest lineups (i.e. “death lineups”), maximizing shooting and defensive versatility. The two most used death lineups in the regular season were Davis, James, Danny Green, Avery Bradley, Kyle Kuzma and Davis, James, Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kuzma.

2019-20: Regular Season

Anthony Davis: 854 minutes – 25.9 percent of total (+5.2 net rating – 110.3 off. 105.2 def)

Dwight Howard: 877 minutes – 26.7 percent (+6.6, 114.2 off. 107.65 def.)

JaVale McGee: 280 minutes – 8.5 percent (+7.9, 111.9 off., 104.1 def.)

Anthony Davis/Dwight Howard: 428 minutes – 13.0 percent (+7.2, 116.8 off., 109.7 def.)

Anthony Davis/JaVale McGee: 849 minutes – 25.8 percent (+4.4, 113.7 off., 109.4 def.)

McGee’s role declined in the postseason, beginning particularly in the 2nd-round series against the Houston Rockets; Markieff Morris started over McGee starting in Game 4. After McGee reclaimed the starting gig the first three games against the Denver Nuggets, Howard entered the starting lineup in Game 4.

On the whole, Howard played ~32.0 percent of the team’s minutes in the postseason (15.7 per game), while McGee played ~15.2 percent (9.6). Davis’s minutes increased from 34.4 to 36.6, with the All-Star playing an increased proportion of his minutes as the lone big (25.9 percent in the regular season to 52.7 percent in the playoffs).

As many Los Angeles fans suspected, the “Davis at center” lineups excelled in the postseason, posting a +13.8 net rating that was significantly better than the other four big men lineup combinations. The most frequently used death lineups were Davis, James, Rajon Rondo, Alex Caruso, Kuzma and Davis, James, Green, Morris, Caldwell-Pope. 

2019-20: Playoffs

Anthony Davis: 459 minutes – 52.7 percent (+13.8, 116.9 off., 103.2 def.)

Dwight Howard: 85 minutes – 9.8 percent (-5.8, 105.8 off., 111.6 def.)

JaVale McGee: 17 minutes – 1.9 percent (-67.6, 76.5 off., 144.8 def.)

Anthony Davis/Dwight Howard: 194 minutes – 22.2 percent (+3.7, 121.2 off., 117.5 def.)

Anthony Davis/JaVale McGee: 116 minutes – 13.3 percent (+15.5, 122.5 off., 107.0 def.)

Home/Los Angeles Lakers