How Jarred Vanderbilt Saved the Lakers
The Vandalorian saves the Lakeshow
In the early stages of February of 2023, the Rob Pelinka made drastic trades in an attempt to save the Lakers season particularly after a horrendous 2-10 start. Fast forward to now, the Lakers managed to make it to the WCF after losing to the eventual champion Nuggets, and are also in the final 2 of the inaugural NBA In Season Tournament. One of the largest contributing factors to the recent surge in Laker success is due to the defensive prowess and hustle of Jarred Vanderbilt. Let’s take a brief look at how Vando has positively impacted the Lakers on the defensive end.
Stats
Since Vando only played one game pre AS break for the Lakers, I will just compare pre AS vs post AS.
There are tremendous leaps in these stats. Obviously the win % increase from 23rd in the league to 2nd in the league is also due to the other contributing factors such as the increase in consistent 3pt shooting, and the increase in pace with the younger players, but it is impossible to deny the effect that Vando has had on the defensive end. One of the most significant stats to also take note off is the improvement in defensive rating. To jump up 14 spots is important to take note of as it showcases the importance of defense. The Lakers struggled to contain high powered offensive teams throughout the regular season, however, the post AS win streak including the playoffs saw the Lakers take down teams like the Warriors, Grizzlies, Mavericks and Suns just to name a few. Vanderbilt also notably has been given the toughest perimeter defensive tasks such as guarding Steph Curry in the WCSF in which he did so successfully.
However, unlike offense where statistics can paint a relatively good picture of an individual’s impact, film study is more important to look at when assessing the value of a person's defense. Below is a short youtube video which showcases Vando’s defensive capabilities during this short stint with the Lakers.
Film
Credit Lakers Fam on Youtube
There are a few things to take note of when looking at this
Hustle
A key intangible that the Lakers lacked was the willingness to hustle and win those 50/50 plays. The insertion of Vando immediately changed this willingness. You will often see Vando hustling back on the fastbreak to prevent the easy fastbreak points, or playing keep up on the dribble drive penetration. You often hear coaches quote “active feet, active hands.” Vando’s ability to remain active on the defensive end allows him to end possessions quickly and create easier scoring opportunities for the Lakers.
Length
Vando has a 7’1 wingspan which is pretty large for a guy his size. This allows him to create excellent defensive pressure and create turnover opportunities. However, his ability to defend without fouling is also important to note as guys like KD and Brandon Ingram who are also lengthy players do not necessarily have the same defensive ability as Vando. This ties into the 3rd crucial factor to take note of, his IQ.
IQ
Vando does not go for the steal unless he is certain that he can jump the passing lane. However, his off ball rotations as well as ability to defend without fouling allows him to maintain pressure throughout the game and constantly annoy the opposing team's offense. Vando has trained himself to utilise his length in a way to deceptively create fast closeout situations. Towards the middle of the video you will notice a few off ball help defensive plays. Normally it would look like the defensive player is too far back, but due to the length of Vando’s strides and his 7 '1 wingspan he is able to close out and sometimes even force turnovers in the high pace of the NBA.
Outside of the Laker fan base and even within this fanbase to a degree, Vando has been greatly underappreciated. He is the perfect example of a role player who knows his role and perfects his role. Alongside Cam Reddish this season the Laker front office have created a scary wing defensive tandem. Moreover, Hachimura’s offensive power, and the Lakers arsenal of strong offensive weapons in general allows for Vanderbilts lackluster offensive ability to quietly sit in the corner while he focuses on the defensive end. That being said, if Vando can begin to consistently make those outside shots, his minutes would see a definite increase.
As a Lakers fan I love watching Vando play, and there is a sense of security on the defensive end when both him and AD are on the court together. I hope that the Lakers can stay healthy for the rest of the season because the defensive potential of this team is off the charts.