The new-look Los Angeles Lakers feature an elite offensive unit led by their backcourt of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Still, Kendrick Perkins has low expectations for how far they can go this season.
Perkins believes Dončić and Co. are destined to be a play-in team because of their defensive limitations.
Kendrick Perkins Predicts Lakers’ Defense Will Hold Them Back
Now entering his ninth season, Dončić has proven time and again that he can lead a team offensively. He can create space, score from almost anywhere, and find his teammates with sharp, pinpoint passes.
Alongside him is Reaves, who is capable of scoring at all three levels. Even against tough defenses, he has shown that he can hit difficult shots and handle a complementary scoring role.
On paper, they should be one of the most difficult duos to contain this season.
Perkins, a member of the 2008 Boston Celtics title squad, believes in their offensive capabilities. However, he also doesn’t think their offense will take them far, as he shared on “NBA Today” on Wednesday.
“Offensively, yes, Luka is one of the most offensive gifted players that we have ever seen in this game,” Perkins said. “They have a lot of offensive talent. I believe they’re going to be one of the best offensive teams in the league.
“I also believe that they’re gonna be a play-in team because there’s another side of the basketball. From what I’ve seen from Walker Kessler, from what I’ve seen from him in the preseason, he didn’t show me that A-list center type energy.”
Dončić does not seem slowed by defensive attention. He’s already won two scoring titles, averaging 33.9 points per game in the 2023-24 campaign and 33.5 ppg last season. He also involves his teammates, averaging 8.2 assists per night over his first eight seasons.
Despite his offensive prowess, the six-time All-Star has been criticized for not having a strong defensive impact. The same can be said for Reaves, who lacks the skill set to be considered a good on-ball defender.
In an effort to address their defensive woes, the Lakers acquired Matisse Thybulle and Walker Kessler this past offseason.
Thybulle is a tremendous perimeter defender, capable of disrupting offenses and forcing turnovers. Through seven seasons, he’s averaged 1.6 steals per game.
Kessler, meanwhile, combines his massive 7-foot-2 frame with excellent timing to protect the paint. He regularly blocks shots, averaging over 2 blocks per game in each of his first three campaigns. His fourth season was an exception, as he averaged just 1.8 blocks while being limited to five games due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Still, Kessler and Thybulle can only do so much. The rest of the Lakers roster will also need to step up defensively. If they can improve on that end of the floor, Los Angeles could compete with the Western Conference’s top teams for a shot at the title.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.