Los Angeles Lakers fan favorite Alex Caruso has carved out a major role in his third season in Los Angeles.
Caruso, 26, played 18.4 minutes per game for the Lakers during the regular 2019-20 season. Throughout the season, he showed great effort on the defensive end and has become a defender that his teammates can depend on.
In fact, Caruso is just behind newly minted NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner Giannis Antetokounmpo in a very important defensive statistic.
The 6-foot-5 guard has allowed opposing All-Stars to shoot just 32.0 percent from the field when he guards them in the half court this season.
According to Second Spectrum, Giannis Antetokounmpo allowed opposing All-Stars to shoot 31.9% in the halfcourt this season as the closest defender. That's the best in the NBA among 228 players to defend 40+ attempts. pic.twitter.com/cO8HQwGJla
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 2, 2020
The Lakers will certainly need Caruso to be a defensive stopper as they continue their run in the postseason.
They will face either the Houston Rockets or Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round. The Rockets have two All-Star caliber guards in Russell Westbrook and James Harden, while the Thunder have star point guard Chris Paul.
Regardless of who wins in Wednesday’s Game 7 between the Rockets and Thunder, Caruso will surely have a tough defensive assignment in the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs.
Luckily, it looks like he’s up to the challenge.
