Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns: X-facts
Lakers X-Factor: Dennis Schroder
While the stars will certainly show up for the Lakers, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis being responsible for a bulk of the Lakers’ performance, their third-best player will be an X-Factor and a major influence in the outcome of the series.
Schroder was a major pick-up for the Lakers and has done a serviceable job holding down the point guard role during the team’s title defense season. He is a slashing scorer, who can help the team put on some quick offense and change the tide of a game.
The German guard will be a focus of the series, as his scoring and playmaking will help open LeBron, Davis, and others up for more opportunities while providing the Lakers with another weapon to help them take out a top team. With averages of 15.4 points and 5.8 assists per game for the season, Schroder is not a player the Suns should take lightly.
Suns X-Factor: Mikal Bridges
Mikal Bridges has had a surprisingly efficient and brilliant season for the Suns, ever since Phoenix traded Kelly Oubre Jr. and gave Bridges the full-time starting position. Bridges has averaged 13.5 points per game on a very efficient 54.3 percent shooting from the field and 42.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line, providing the Suns with another option if Paul, Booker, or Ayton are having an off night.
However, the biggest quality Bridges will bring to the series is his incredible defensive skills. Mikal is usually given the difficult task of defending the opposition’s best player, meaning that the young emerging star will spend a lot of time with LeBron James over the next couple of weeks.
His defensive effort will be crucial if Phoenix hopes to hold off the defending champions, as Bridges will need to make sure LeBron has as little impact as possible. While it may seem like an impossible task to stop LeBron, Bridges certainly has the capabilities in his defensive tool kit to limit the production from the King.