Lakers’ missing piece is one they used to have

KCP made 4 three-pointers in a decisive third quarter as Denver outscored Los Angeles 32-18 and took management of the primary recreation of their first-round sequence. That’s only one fewer triple than the Lakers not named LeBron James hit all recreation.

In fact, a part of that poor taking pictures was because of the protection of Caldwell-Pope. He blanked D’Angelo Russell for a lot of the sport, and Russell completed with 13 factors on 6-for-20 taking pictures. After the win, Nuggets coach Michael Malone gave Caldwell-Pope his Defensive Participant of the Sport Award.

KCP’s stable play ought to look acquainted to the Lakers, who acquired 13 three-pointers from him of their 2020 Finals win. He performed the third-most minutes on that title staff, however Los Angeles despatched him to the Wizards in 2021 as a part of a deal for Russell Westbrook.

It was a nasty deal to begin with, as a result of Caldwell-Pope is a perfect LeBron James teammate. He doesn’t want the ball, however hits open pictures, making over 40 p.c of his threes in three of his final 4 seasons.

KCP can also guard a number of positions, and he’s particularly powerful on scoring level guards. Like Jamal Murray, who has averaged over 30 factors in his final 5 playoff video games in opposition to these Lakers.

For his half, Caldwell-Pope relishes the problem of taking part in his outdated staff, and doesn’t thoughts zinging them both.

He instructed reporters it was “all the time enjoyable” to play a staff that Denver had a historical past with, however added that Denver had “received just about each recreation.” KCP isn’t mistaken, as Saturday was Denver’s eighth straight win over Los Angeles and fifth straight playoff win. Since he arrived in Denver earlier than final season, he’s received ten video games and misplaced just one.

Caldwell-Pope was the lacking piece for Denver as they received their first title. He additionally often is the lacking piece that price the Lakers their probability to win one other one with an all-time duo like James and Davis.