The Los Angeles Lakers are in an interesting spot. After eight seasons with LeBron James as a central figure, the franchise is now building around Luka Dončić, hoping he can lead the team to another championship.
Head coach JJ Redick has already expressed confidence in the group’s potential. Now, a former Boston Celtics star is making an even bolder case for what the Lakers could achieve on the offensive end.
Kendrick Perkins Backs Lakers’ Potential To Have NBA’s Best Offense
Dončić has already shown how dangerous he can be in the pick-and-roll, particularly when paired with big men who can finish around the rim. For the Lakers to reach their offensive ceiling, developing that same chemistry with their frontcourt will be crucial.
Speaking on ESPN’s “NBA Today,” Perkins cited Dončić’s ability to create opportunities for his teammates as a key reason the Lakers could become the NBA’s best offense.
“Luka is so great when he has a dynamic roller that loves to finish at the basket. But also, Luka is a different type of guy in the pick-and-roll. He’s not just ahead of steam kind of guy and lobbing at the basket,” Perkins began.
“He’s a guy that likes to keep you on his hip, that likes to probe. So I want to see them develop that same synergy that he had with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively.”
The 2008 NBA champion asserted Dončić’s impact will extend beyond the pick-and-roll, creating more opportunities for the Lakers’ perimeter shooters and making the offense even harder to defend.
“We know Luka’s going to get buckets,” Perkins continued. “But outside of that, it’s going to open up so many wide-open threes for Austin Reaves, for Quentin Grimes, and others that I believe the Lakers are going to have the best offensive team in the league, in my opinion, when you think about what they’re capable of doing and Luka just being an offensive threat himself.”
Last season, the Lakers ranked 10th in offensive rating, scoring 117 points per 100 possessions, per NBA.com, despite injuries to James, Dončić, and Reaves at various points. That further shows that an elite offense isn’t just about having the right pieces, but also having a healthy enough roster to keep it going throughout the season.
The Lakers added Grimes, Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Matisse Thybulle in the offseason, all of whom could be valuable assets to the offense.
Dončić and Reaves are one of the NBA’s best scoring duos, but for their impact to be truly felt, they’ll need their supporting cast to come through for them. Beyond that, the Lakers’ biggest question remains their defense.
The team went all out to add Walker Kessler, and while he can help offensively, they made the move primarily for what he brings on the other end of the floor. He, Thybulle and Adou Thiero should help, but it will take a team effort.
Dončić and Reaves will have to prove they aren’t liabilities on that end of the floor. Being just average defensively could go a long way toward helping the Lakers achieve their goals.
Perkins may very well be right about the Lakers’ offense this season, but it could all be for naught if their defense isn’t at least above average. The team is not just hoping to score a lot of points; they’re hoping to win a lot of games.
No one will be surprised if they achieve the former, but the latter will depend on their defense.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.