Among the various doubts surrounding the Lakers’ new roster, their defensive capabilities appear to be among the most significant. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves leading the way, the scoring talent is undeniable, but at the same time it seems difficult to stand out on the defensive end of the court with both manning the backcourt. Yet not everyone shares that view.
Walker Kessler, who has arrived precisely to serve as the defensive anchor for the angels, believes they are prepared not only to survive on defense but to shine. And when it comes to arguing his case, he has chosen to praise the strengths of the perimeter players.
«I think we’re going to be an excellent defense» the center stated. «People aren’t taking into account how good our perimeter defense will be. Many of our players are very smart positionally and can defend very well. And there are others who are experts at stealing the ball».
Kessler is surely referring to many of the Lakers’ additions, which indeed can have a notable impact in that area. From specialists like Matisse Thybulle or Jarred Vanderbilt to high-energy players such as Collin Sexton or Ziaire Williams, Redick’s crew indeed has versatile and aggressive men in this regard that Kessler seems to trust. And alongside them, as he asserts, he believes he can stand out more in his rim-protecting duties.
«Having players who can put their hands on the ball and who can recover their position when beaten makes my job much easier. It’s much easier to contest a shot when the shooter has a defender glued to him than when there is a clear lane to the rim».
Finding the Rotation
The truth is that, in terms of names, one must give Kessler’s view some credit and admit that the Californians have leaned toward profiles that can contribute quite a bit. But it is also true that merely being on the roster does not mean much. Some of them may struggle to earn minutes due to their offensive fit, and even if they do, the aforementioned presence of Doncic and Reaves significantly limits the minutes that other backcourt players can receive.
Thus, Redick will have his work cut out when it comes to adjusting the rotation to turn these Lakers into a solid defense. But, unlike in other occasions, it seems this year he has more tools to achieve it.
