Vanderbilt isn't in the starting five for Monday's Game 4 against Denver, Chris Haynes of Turner Sports reports.
Rui Hachimura will replace Vanderbilt in the starting lineup Monday. Vanderbilt is averaging 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 13.7 minutes across the first three games of the series.
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Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt: Rough night Saturday
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Vanderbilt closed with two points (1-4 FG, 0-1 3Pt) and one rebound across 14 minutes during Saturday's 119-108 loss to the Nuggets in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.
Vanderbilt remained in the starting lineup Saturday but managed just two points in 14 minutes. He has basically been a non-factor on offense for the majority of the playoffs. Typically utilized for his defensive production, even that has been below his standard against the Nuggets. Given the state of the series, the coaching staff could very well opt to go with a different starting five for Game 4 in the hope of building some momentum.
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Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt: Moves into starting lineup
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Vanderbilt will move into the starting lineup for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals versus the Nuggets on Thursday, according to Chris Haynes of Turner Sports.
Dennis Schroder will head back to the bench with this news. Vanderbilt played a very limited role in the previous series, but the Lakers are opting for more defense and rebounding with this move.
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Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt: Moves to second unit
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Vanderbilt will come off the bench in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Warriors on Friday, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports.
Dennis Schroder will join D'Angelo Russell in the backcourt as the Lakers go smaller to counter Golden State's small-ball approach. Vanderbilt played a combined 22 minutes in the previous two games, so it's unlikely the Lakers will turn to him much in Game 6.
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Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt: Offers very little in loss
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Vanderbilt ended with zero points (0-2 FG, 0-2 3Pt), one rebound, one block and one steal across 11 minutes during Wednesday's 121-106 loss to the Warriors in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
Vanderbilt remained in the starting lineup Wednesday but managed just 11 minutes of playing time. Outside of a highlight block, Vanderbilt was unable to have any sort of a tangible impact. At this point, he is being used sparingly, depending on the individual game situation. Despite the loss, the Lakers will now head back to Los Angeles for Game 6 with a chance to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
Vanderbilt recorded 15 points (6-9 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), six rebounds, one assist and three blocks across 20 minutes during Monday's 117-111 overtime victory over the Grizzlies in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
Vanderbilt did most of his damage during the first quarter, getting the Lakers off to a strong start despite Anthony Davis struggling. Known for his defensive ability, Vanderbilt connected on a pair of corner threes early, adding a pair of blocks as the team took the lead at the first change. Despite his strong two-way performance, Vanderbilt still managed just 20 minutes, highlighting how volatile his role is and likely will be for the remainder of the playoffs.
Vanderbilt finished Tuesday's 108-102 overtime Play-In Tournament win over Minnesota with zero points (0-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 22 minutes.
Vanderbilt started against his former team but failed to score in just 22 minutes. Despite having carved out a nice role for himself in Los Angeles, Vanderbilt continues to sputter when it comes to consistency. He serves more as a defensive stopper, but his lack of offensive versatility means he often finds himself on the bench. The Lakers will face the Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs, a matchup that could call for Vanderbilt's defensive upside a little more.
Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt: Unproductive in victory
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Vanderbilt supplied two points (1-2 FG), four rebounds, one assist and one steal over 15 minutes during Sunday's 134-109 win over Houston.
Vanderbilt started again Sunday but played only 15 minutes, his lowest amount since joining the Lakers. Despite having carved out a relatively consistent role, Vanderbilt sits outside the top 160 over the past month. At best, he should be looked at as a streaming consideration for anyone needing steals and boards.
