- The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a tough battle to secure a spot in the NBA Playoffs this year, despite being seen as a top contender at the beginning of the season. This marks the third time in four years that the team must compete in the Play-In Tournament, which is not where they want to be. In order to secure a top six spot in the Western Conference, the Lakers need to start winning games immediately, as time is running out. This will require head coach Darvin Ham to make some changes and prioritize playing their best players. Currently, due to injuries, this has not been possible, but once the team is fully healthy, certain players will need to be benched. One player who has not lived up to expectations is Jaxson Hayes, who has been filling in as the team’s only true center while Christian Wood is injured. Hayes has not shown the athleticism and defensive prowess Lakers fans were hoping for, and his limited playing time when the rotation is at full strength reflects this. When Wood returns, even with his defensive weaknesses, he should be given his rightful playing time and Hayes should be benched. While Hayes may have a role in a playoff series to provide a physical presence against players like Nikola Jokic, his net rating of five points worse when on the court suggests he should not be playing in crucial moments.
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3 Lakers who must be benched if LA is going to make the playoffs
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