The Los Angeles Lakers came into this new season with everyone expecting a dip in their defense, but just two days into training camp, it sounds like two players are out to flip that whole narrative on its head: Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams. This isn’t just talk, either. It’s coming straight from a teammate who’s had to deal with them firsthand, and what he said after practice on Wednesday changes everything we thought about this team’s D.
The Lockdown Duo Nobody Saw Coming
Austin Reaves, who knows a thing or two about scoring, didn’t mince words. He said, “Trying to score on Matisse and Zaire…is not easy.” Can you imagine? He added that he had to deal with them “all day yesterday and today, and it’s not fun.” That’s high praise, folks. Reaves is calling them “two of the best defenders in the league,” highlighting their ability to “guard multiple positions” and shouting out Thybulle’s “top tier” anticipation. Both Thybulle and Williams are in LA on minimum deals, Thybulle a veteran and Williams still just 25, and they are clearly hungry to prove they belong. If the impression they are making on their teammates holds up, these two might just be integral pieces in making the Lakers one of the best defenses in the entire league.
Even coach JJ Redick is hyped about Williams, stating, “It starts with the defense. He’s a pest. He’s disruptive. He’s got great length.” Redick also noted that Williams’ “physicality stood out” during pickup games in September and the first two days of camp. Combine that physicality with length and instincts, and you’ve got a player with a “solid base defensively.”
Practice Intensity Is Through The Roof
Redick, known for his attention to detail, actually had to *modify* the latter third of practice because of how much effort and physicality the guys were giving. That’s a good problem to have, right? He called the day “great” and said they cut a few things because the intensity was so high. He specifically mentioned the wings as the main source of that physicality, being early disruptors, eating at the shot clock, and keeping that intensity even off the ball.
Quentin Grimes echoed the sentiment, saying, “It’s been high intensity from the start.” He emphasized that the team is “setting the tone defensively with who we want to be,” picking up full court, switching one-through-five, and even going smaller a couple of times. “JJ can see it. We could all feel it. The coaches can feel it,” Grimes added. Sandro Mamukelashvili piled on, calling it “very intense,” with everybody “hands-on” and “very, very physical.” It’s clear this Lakers squad is coming out swinging on the defensive end.
This early camp energy is undeniable. If the Lakers can sustain this level of defensive intensity, led by what sounds like a shockingly effective Thybulle and Williams duo, they are going to be a much tougher out than anyone anticipated. It’s only the start, but the foundation for an elite defense might already be laid.
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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