How Badly Will Rajon Rondo Be Missed?

Losing a player is always tough for any team. But the Lakers lost a great playoff floor general in Rajon Rondo. According to reports, he could be back in time for the playoffs. But if he’s not, then the Lakers will have to take drastic measures. But here is why Rondo’s injury may not cost them as much as some may believe.

Rondo is not the player he was while with the Boston Celtics or the New Orleans Pelicans. This season, he averaged 7.1 points and 5.0 assists while shooting .418 percent from the floor. The other notable factor to consider has been the emergence of Alex Caruso. In 2019, Caruso averaged 5.4 points in 17.8 minutes per game. But then the Lakers also had the playmaking ability of Avery Bradley.

But with Bradley out, the Lakers will rely more on Caruso and LeBron for ball-handling duties as well as newly signed J.R. Smith and Dion Waiters. The Lakers will not be shorthanded here as Smith has Finals experience and Waiters is a streaky shooter off the bench.

The loss of Rondo will weaken the already thin Lakers’ bench but not as much as analysts believe. They can overcome his absence.