湖人替补得分需改善，里夫斯或应成为替补选择

全明星赛后，湖人队 n has seen playing time from 17 different players, with only Doncic and LeBron James having assist rates below 50%. In other words, most players have primarily focused on scoring rather than facilitating for their teammates.

During the same period, Rufus had an assist rate of 52.7% and a true shooting percentage of 61.9%.

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Based on this, it is easy to understand why the Lakers' starting lineup averaged 85.1 points per game, tying with the Clippers for 7th place, while the bench's average of 26.2 points ranks only higher than the Nuggets and the Knicks. Ultimately, the bench lacks a player who can handle the ball effectively and connect with teammates.

How can the Lakers improve their bench scoring?

I believe that demoting Rufus to the bench is the best option at the moment.

Firstly, during the same period, Rufus converted 5.4 assists per 52.2 passes, ranking just behind Booker, Monk, and Butler in terms of assists in his position. Additionally, his assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.78 indicates good control of passing and minimizing errors.

It is worth mentioning that out of 16 players who received passes from Rufus and took shots, only Morris and Vanderbilt had a shooting percentage below 40%. To some extent, Rufus's passing contributes positively to his teammates' shooting efficiency.

Secondly, last season when Rufus played as a substitute, the Lakers' bench averaged 32.0 points, competing with strong teams like the Celtics and the Timberwolves. However, after several games where Rufus started in place of Ham, the Lakers' bench scoring dropped drastically to a league-low of 20.5 points.

Considering these two points, it is evident that Rufus has experience in leading the bench unit with relatively good results.

Furthermore, we should not overlook the fact that both Doncic and Rufus have average defensive abilities—Doncic reduced opponents' shooting percentage from 46.5% to 45.6%, while Rufus saw an increase from 45.9% to 49.3% in opponent shooting percentage when defending. Separating these two and bringing in players like Vincent, Goodwin, or Finney-Smith could significantly improve the team's overall defensive quality.

Moreover, playing off the bench may not necessarily be a bad thing for Rufus.

Firstly, compared to starting, coming off the bench would allow him to have more control over the game.

Secondly, considering that playing off the bench can enhance his playmaking skills, it could potentially help Rufus evolve into a better combo guard. Similar to Donovan Mitchell during his time with the Jazz, this approach indirectly raises his ceiling.

In conclusion, considering the team's low bench scoring ranking in the league, the Lakers should not hesitate to make Rufus a reserve player.

发布于：广东省