Lakers’ missing piece is one they used to have

KCP made four three-pointers in a decisive third quarter as Denver outscored Los Angeles 32-18 and took control of the first game of their first-round series. That’s just one fewer triple than the Lakers not named LeBron James hit all game.

Of course, part of that poor shooting was due to the defense of Caldwell-Pope. He blanked D’Angelo Russell for much of the game, and Russell finished with 13 points on 6-for-20 shooting. After the win, Nuggets coach Michael Malone gave Caldwell-Pope his Defensive Player of the Game Award.

KCP’s solid play should look familiar to the Lakers, who got 13 three-pointers from him in their 2020 Finals win. He played the third-most minutes on that title team, but Los Angeles sent him to the Wizards in 2021 as part of a deal for Russell Westbrook.

It was a bad deal to start with, because Caldwell-Pope is an ideal LeBron James teammate. He doesn’t need the ball, but hits open shots, making over 40 percent of his threes in three of his last four seasons.

KCP also can guard multiple positions, and he’s especially tough on scoring point guards. Like Jamal Murray, who has averaged over 30 points in his last five playoff games against these Lakers.

For his part, Caldwell-Pope relishes the challenge of playing his old team, and doesn’t mind zinging them either.

He told reporters it was “always fun” to play a team that Denver had a history with, but added that Denver had “won pretty much every game.” KCP isn’t wrong, as Saturday was Denver’s eighth straight win over Los Angeles and fifth straight playoff win. Since he arrived in Denver before last season, he’s won ten games and lost only one.

Caldwell-Pope was the missing piece for Denver as they won their first title. He also may be the missing piece that cost the Lakers their chance to win another one with an all-time duo like James and Davis.