When the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Russell Westbrook in the offseason, they ensured the entire league would be watching intently throughout the entirety of 2021-22. Unfortunately, Westbrook and head coach Frank Vogel have been the scapegoat of this organization, but the Lakers are finally finding their groove, winning five out of their last six games. One of the major moves of interim head coach David Fizdale made while Vogel was in health-and-safety protocols was starting Malik Monk alongside Westbrook and LeBron James.
Talen Horton-Tucker was initially starting next to Westbrook in the backcourt, but has since flourished for the Lakers' second unit. Monk's shooting prowess is better off alongside James and Westbrook because they are both selfless passers who provide him a steady diet of open looks. Even with Anthony Davis and Kendrick Nunn expected back soon, Los Angeles' best course of action is to stick with Monk in the starting five and bring Nunn off the bench.
3 reasons Lakers should continue starting Malik Monk
Remarkable chemistry with LeBron
Most every season of James' career, there have always been shooters who are frequent recipients of his pinpoint bullet passes beyond the arc, like J.R. Smith, Ray Allen and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. They flourished under the leadership of LeBron while fulfilling their role as high-volume three-point shooters night in and night out. Monk struggled early this season, but has finally found his rhythm of late, averaging 22.2 points over the last six games.
Monk is connecting on more than four threes per game during that timeframe, providing crucial floor-spacing despite the subpar shooting of guys like Westbrook and Davis. James always finds a way to help shooters reach another level. If Monk even comes close to sustaining his recent performance, he'll be instrumental to the Lakers' burgeoning hopes of being a threat in the playoffs.
Constant aggressiveness
The problem for a team featuring James, Davis and Westbrook is roster flexibility. The majority of their teammates are playing on minimum contracts and already well past their prime. Vogel and Fizdale have experimented with everyone on their roster, but Monk is the guard that stands out because of his aggressiveness and determination to score every possession.
His outside shooting is not the only exceptional aspect of his arsenal. Monk is also a dangerous slasher attacking close-outs, unafraid to challenge big men at the rim for high-flying finishes. The more time he spends with James and Westbrook, the more comfortable an athletic shooter like Monk will get exploiting scrambling defenses with furious forays to the paint as teams run him off the three-point line.
Phenomenal athleticism and energy
For an aging and veteran team like the Lakers, consistent hustle and energy is vital, especially in the regular season. Players like Monk, Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson must give all-out effort every game and prove to Vogel they deserve regular minutes on the biggest stage. Over this six-game stretch, Monk has been utilizing his skills even at the defensive end of the court.
Monk has never been known as a lockdown defender, but does on that end to contain and stay in front of quick guards. The Lakers may add tough, rugged players at the trade deadline or on the buyout market to bolster their defense, meaning Monk must continue proving he's not a defensive liability to cement himself as a starter. Few shooters who played with James in the past were top-notch defenders, but most of them were at least passable defensively.
The Lakers are +69 with Monk on the floor in their last six games. Even if that mark proves unsustainable, it's a ringing endorsement of Monk's peak impact on his new team, and another reason why Los Angeles has much more room for optimism entering the season's second half.
Follow Us
Subscribe