We've said more than once that the Lakers' failure to keep Caruso was one of the biggest losses of that group of management in that offseason. Caruso's role in improving the team is far more than the data you see. Yes, caruso can now also discuss spiritual values. Especially in the playoffs, Caruso's ability will be further intensified, and this ability is exactly what the Lakers lack. The Bucks and Bulls' first playoff showdown, Caruso was unusually determined. It could even be argued that the Bulls lost the game and Caruso didn't.
Friends who have watched this game should know that the Bulls can bite the score in the whole game, in fact, relying on Caruso's output on the defensive end. Cutting off Matthews' pass, pushing The Alphabet brother into a corner, single-handedly defending Middleton, caruso against all the Bucks players on the defensive end. If you just look at the data, doesn't that mean there are only 2 steals? But you embody the game, and Caruso has a chance to stop the opponent from taking a shot almost every matchup turn. The Bucks' tactics were repeatedly destroyed by Caruso, and in the end, there was no way, they had to replace Caruso with enough misplaced advantages, playing Lavin and DeRozan, these defensive weaknesses.
Unfamiliar friends may think that Caruso is just an ordinary person. Because from the perspective of body shape, Caruso is not much different from ordinary people, with a height of only 6 feet 5 and a weight of only 185 pounds. The most impressive thing is probably his baldness, so everyone also calls him Bald Mamba. Of course, these are the views of fans who are not familiar with Caruso, after all, such a player who has no memory point is difficult to bring any commercial value to the heroic American basketball.
Why is Caruso a player with no memory points? Because from a stylistic point of view, Caruso is indeed a more moderate player. To put it nicely, Caruso's abilities are more comprehensive. He can do a little bit of anything, but he can't do anything well. He can shoot three-pointers, but the stability is not very good. He can arrange the organization, but because of his height, the organizational effect is not as good as other players. He also has the so-called ability to break through, but unlike the kind of player who can tear apart the opponent's defense, Caruso's breakthrough is not much of a threat. The Lakers in the championship season do need a player like this who can fill all the gaps in the position and do their job well. Of course, the Lakers at that stage actually needEd Caruso to play chicken blood, and his enthusiasm on the court is not comparable to other players. You can see that as long as Caruso is on the court, the Lakers can always maintain a higher level of enthusiasm, because the attitude is contagious.
Extending this attitude to bulls is also a truth. Everyone knows that Lavin and DeRozan are not good defensively, but driven by Caruso, their defensive enthusiasm has at least improved by one notch. In the event of leakage or misalignment, they will actively come forward to assist. Although due to their footsteps and body, they could not effectively limit their opponents. But this enthusiasm allows them to maintain the same bloodiness on the offensive end, which is a meaningful extension of value.
When we discussed the Lakers letting go of the most bloody players, we also based on this consideration. The Lakers in the 21-22 season really can't play well, there is no chemistry on the court, and they will only throw the pot off the court. Wei Shao is more outrageous, does not throw the pot, and will promise to play better, but every game is a batch of crotch pulls. If Caruso was present at this time, he might be able to inspire Wei Shao's shame.
What are the characteristics of Caruso's defense? It boils down to three aspects: being able to create offensive fouls, performing well in steals, and having a keen enough observation of the game on the pitch at critical moments. Combining these points, you will find that Caruso is a player who plays by his brain, because it is indeed a little unrealistic to discuss physical talent in him. Caruso is a very chicken thief for making offensive fouls, he doesn't make a lot of fouls every game, but every time it's appropriate. This is rare, after all, Caruso can have very little ball power. This kind of foul opportunity can not interfere with the offensive choice in the general direction of the team, but also win the right scoring opportunity for yourself. In the same position, without considering the playing time, Caruso's foul-making efficiency is in the league's top five. We don't know if Caruso's efficiency and production would fluctuate if he had been given more time and opportunities, but from this point in time, his ability is sufficient and there is a positive improvement for the team.
As for Caruso's ability to steal, there's really nothing to say about that. In the Lakers' championship season, as long as the team's defense is broken by the opponent, that is Caruso's playing time. He is mainly responsible for defending the opponent's arrows! This is critical because most of the arrows are very strong in tearing! Caruso's pace is fast, and because of his stature, speed is one of his advantages. So even if the opponent is speedy or powerful, Caruso can resist. For some lightweight fronts, Caruso is also comfortable with it. So the Lakers can be very confident in handing over their outside line to Caruso to defend. To tell the truth, if he can improve his offensive skills and enrich the means of attack, the Lakers are most likely reluctant to give up Caruso. After all, this kind of player goes to other teams, and then the headache is himself.
Caruso is a grateful man, and it was the Lakers who gave him the opportunity to play in the NBA. So if there is a choice, he should not choose to leave the Lakers. But we've also said many times that now the Lakers' management is a big quagmire, everything is chaotic, and many players can't get what they want here, so they have to leave in the end. Caruso is also, the management is not willing to give the opportunity, he naturally can not be wishful thinking. (Reasonable Lakers management is really rotten to explode, this season the Lakers put up 41 starting lineups, a total of only 82 games, and finally played this ghost)
In the Bulls, Caruso's playing time increased from 21 minutes to 28 minutes, and the data also increased significantly. The score was a new high outside the 18 seasons, and there were 3.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, averaging 1.7 steals per game, which is a regular operation. Arguably, the Bulls' Caruso has once again proven his worth. The Lakers, on the other hand, can only stomp their feet at home.