Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

JJ Redick threw the Lakers socialsphere a curveball in Friday's preseason finale, choosing to start guard Gabe Vincent in the open spot vacated by LeBron James's early season injury. This, when most people expected either Jarred Vanderbilt or Marcus Smart. 

So why Vincent? 

You can argue that Vincent may not be the best at any one thing the Lakers feel like they need, but he ticks more boxes overall. Outside shooting? Yes, the way he's been doing it in the preason, at least. Defense? Pretty good, and is very good on concepts and reliability. He's not going to be the reason the system breaks down because he's out of position, or makes the wrong read. He can handle an offense, providing some direction and secondary ballhandling. 

Are Vando and Smart better individual defenders? Yes. Do both allow the Lakers to play bigger? Yes again. Could Smart have more overall offensive juice and a more diverse skillset? Sure could. 

But is Smart, who missed much of the preseason with tendinitis in his Achilles tendon, ready to carry the load of a starter? For that matter, do the Lakers trust Smart and Vando, who have both battled significant injuries over the last couple of years, can play starters minutes at the energy they require without breaking down? 

So is JJ making the right call, here? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Are the Lakers set to start Gabe Vincent? 

SEGMENT 2: Smart choice from Redick? 

SEGMENT 3: Pros and cons. 

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