Alex Caruso is one of the Lakers biggest mistakes of the last decade

Alex Caruso is one of the Lakers’ biggest mistakes of the last decade. He’s a laser.He’s a defensive wizard.

He pours his heart into every possession.He’s a winner. And the Lakers let him walk. The team’s egregious mistake was highlighted in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Thunder and Spurs. Caruso was the best player on the court for the Thunder even though he was playing alongside two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It was Caruso who had a team-high 31 points on 11-for-19 shooting from the field, 8-for-14 from beyond the arc, two steals and two blocked shots. It was the 6-foot-5 Caruso who was trusted to guard the 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama.Caruso was everywhere, doing everything.

He was like a rabid dog who had been uncaged.Coming off the bench, he had the second-highest scoring performance of his career.

He gritted his teeth and slowed down a defender who’s a foot taller than him.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story He was magnificent.  With 4:36 left in regulation, he blocked Stephon Castle’s layup attempt.

Then, with 1:51 remaining and the Thunder down by two points, he made a 36-foot 3-pointer to give them a one-point lead, helping force overtime. In the final 2:20 of overtime, he had a steal, a rebound and a 3-pointer to force a second overtime. Caruso comes alive during the playoffs. When the competition is fiercest, something deep inside of him awakens.It’s the same quality that drove him from being undrafted in 2016 to becoming one of the league’s best role players. If grit were measurable, he’d rank off the charts.

He’s the type of player who’s value can’t be gleaned from box scores.Wembanyama might be an alien, but Caruso is a unicorn. California Post News: Facebook, Instagra...