NBA Restart: Los Angeles Lakers' Spitfire Guard Expected To Step Up In Orlando

The Los Angeles Lakers are ramping up their efforts to get back into their lethal form with less than two weeks left before the NBA restart. LeBron James and Anthony Davis have spearheaded the squad with success, but as they enter the unchartered territory inside the Orlando bubble, the Lakers’ supporting crew will be tasked with a more significant role to fulfill, perhaps none bigger than the pressure on veteran sharpshooter Danny Green.

Addam Goldman of Fansided’s The Lake Show Life listed Green as the number one guy in the Lakers’ list of role players to step up for the team’s title chase.

With the Playoffs just around the corner, the Lakers will be expecting more from the 33-year-old, who is coming off a championship with the Toronto Raptors last season. Specifically, L.A. will be banking on his savvy and experience, which are the perfect complement to his top-notch defensive skills, and a proven perimeter touch.

But while his deadly arsenal from beyond the arc took the backseat during the title run against the Golden State Warriors, Green has remained committed to being a defensive lynchpin – something that the Lakers could rely on going deep into the postseason.

One apparent difference, however, is the tough road in the Western Conference. For Goldman, Green will have to unleash both his offensive and defensive arsenal this time to give the Lakers a better chance of getting past their fierce conference rivals.

“Danny Green will have to shoot better during this year’s playoffs if the Lakers are going to take down the Clippers and the Bucks,” Goldman wrote. “Both organizations possess an overabundance of long and agile wings. During the playoffs, when these wings are going 110 percent, they’re going to make it very tough for LeBron James to manufacture points.”

Green’s primary role is to hit consistent shots from the outside in order to draw defenders on him and off the Lakers’ primary weapon like Davis and James. Should the team master this strategy, then the team could be difficult to stop.

“If they start to feel that Danny Green’s jumper is even a little bit shaky and his man starts to roam towards James, it’s going to make a difficult situation, almost impossible. LeBron must have room to work to run the Lakers offense, and Danny Green is the key to creating space for him.”

Green signed a two-year deal worth $30 million to play for the Lakers in the summer of 2019. In 61 games wearing the purple and gold as a starter, he averaged 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 41.9% from the field and 37.8% from downtown.