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Why Isaiah Thomas should start over Russell Westbrook for the Lakers

By Zamir Bueno

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers, Isaiah Thomas, Russell Westbrook
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 12: LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the basketball court together during the second half of a preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California, Why Isaiah Thomas should start over Russell Westbrook for the Lakers. 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 Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

The Los Angeles Lakers have decided to bring in Isaiah Thomas to add depth to their roster. The team signed Thomas to a 10-day contract on December 17th under the hardship exception. The hardship exception stipulates that a team can sign an extra player if four players are out due to injuries or sickness.

Los Angeles qualifies for this rule as they have three players in health and safety protocols in Avery Bradley, Dwight Howard, and Talen Horton-Tucker. They are also missing two players due to injury in Kendrick Nunn and Anthony Davis.

Could Isaiah Thomas be a better fit for the Lakers than Russell Westbrook?

Although Isaiah Thomas is joining the team under unfortunate circumstances, he possesses the skill set to make him a good fit for the Lakers. The Lakers ran an offensive system revolving around post-ups and pick and rolls before this season.

The team had been top-five in post-up possessions, averaging nine per game. Before this season, Anthony Davis and LeBron James accounted for more than 82.2 percent of the team’s post-ups, as they combined to average over 7.4 per game.

James has also played a pivotal role in the team’s pick and roll possessions as he led the team, averaging 6.25 possessions per game. James accounted for 37.5 percent of the team’s pick and roll possessions, as the team averaged 16.6 per game in the seasons before this campaign.

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