The Lakers are finally putting their money where their mouth is on defense, and it’s all thanks to the arrival of Walker Kessler. After wrapping up Thursday’s season-opening presser, President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka and Head Coach JJ Redick made it clear: they’re totally revamping their defensive identity this season. It’s about time, especially after a year where they won 53 games but still rolled out the tenth-worst defense in the league. Seriously, every other 50-win squad was top seven except the Nuggets and Cavs. That’s a huge red flag.
The Rim Protection Gap Was Canyon-Sized
“Struggled” is actually an understatement for their defense last season. These guys ranked second-to-last in opponents’ shooting percentage at the rim, giving up a mind-boggling 72% in the restricted area. Ouch! That’s why they traded away Deandre Ayton and let Jaxson Hayes walk. Pelinka and Redick said they want players who match Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in their prime, especially needing a new big-man anchor and younger athletes. Enter Walker Kessler, who Redick called a “perfect fit” for Luka and Reaves due to his rim protection and ability to anchor the defense, something they’ve clearly “struggled with.” Kessler’s last healthy season saw him average 2.4 blocks by himself, while LA’s main centers combined for only 1.8 total. That gap is massive, right? He’s got elite timing, a quick jump, and a 9’5” standing reach. This dude alone instantly flips the Lakers from a weak rim protection team to an elite one, assuming they can keep him near the basket.
No More Switching, No More Easy Buckets
Part of the defensive overhaul is dumping their old strategy. Redick admitted they’ve “switched a lot one through five the last two years,” but said it was “by necessity.” The idea behind 1-5 switching is to cancel out screens and save energy for slower players, but good offenses consistently exploited it. They’d just get the matchup they wanted with zero resistance, dragging LA’s big man out of the paint. Remember Christmas Day when Kevin Durant just carved up Ayton in a switch? Ayton backed up helplessly, giving KD all the space in the world for that patented jump shot. That kind of defensive soft spot is apparently gone. While Luka and Austin have had the offense humming, now the defense has a clear direction too: funnel everyone to Kessler at the rim.
This season is shaping up to be a completely different look for the Lakers on defense. With Kessler holding down the paint and a new scheme, it’ll be fascinating to watch if this translates into more wins. Can they keep that rim protection locked down and become a true two-way threat? The league’s about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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