What can we expect from the Los Angeles Lakers’ top five-man unit?
- PG: Russell Westbrook
- SG: Talen Horton-Tucker
- SF: Kent Bazemore
- SF: LeBron James
- C: Anthony Davis
Let’s start by discussing rebounding, a facet of defense that doesn’t seem to be talked about enough. When you measure a player’s defense, their lockdown ability is essential. But, rebounding is also crucial.
At the end of games, when every player’s lungs are burning, and their legs are screaming, nothing is more mentally debilitating than going 100 percent on the less glamorous side of the ball and forcing your assignment to miss a tough shot, only to see an opposing player get the offensive rebound. It makes you wonder why you tortured your body in the first place. In the end, a lack of rebounding is often the difference between a clutch win and a soul-crushing loss.
The Lakers’ top defensive unit will be the best rebounding group in the league. Russell Westbrook averaged nearly 12 rebounds per game from the point guard position. (quick note: people love to wax on about Westbrooks shoddy shooting numbers, but nobody ever talks about his rebounding. He’s a 6’3″ point guard who finished 6th in the league last year in rebounding. He’s a rebounding savant.)
LeBron James and Anthony Davis aren’t slouch’s either. Each man averaged nearly eight rebounds per game last season. Between the Lakers’ big three, they averaged only 13 rebounds less than the entire Sacramento Kings roster last season.
Even THT (12 rebounding% last season) and Kent Bazemore (16 rebounding% last season) are solid rebounders, unafraid to mix it up with bigger players on the block.
We can expect a lot of one-and-done defensive sequences for the Lakers during the upcoming season.
Check out this groups wingspan’s:
- Russell Westbrook: 6’8” wingspan
- Talen Horton-Tucker: 7’1” wingspan
- Kent Bazemore: 7’0” wingspan
- SF: LeBron James: 7’0” wingspan
- C: Anthony Davis: 7’6” wingspan
That averages out to a ridiculous 7’1″ collective wingspan between this 5-man combination.
For context, check each member of the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks starting unit.
- Jrue Holiday: 6’7” wingspan
- Donte DiVincenzo: 6’6” wingspan
- Khris Middleton: 6’11” wingspan
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: 7’3” wingspan
- Brook Lopez: 7’6” wingspan
That averages out to a 7’0” wingspan.
We just witnessed the Milwaukee Bucks brick their way (32.1 three-point percentage in the playoffs) to the title, behind their incredibly long and physical defense.
You already know the Lakers are longer. But they’re more physically disruptive as well.
Russell Westbrook is a dynamic force who’s listed at 200 pounds of pure muscle. You can say he’s awful from deep, and you can say he gambles too often for steals. But you can’t call him soft. If you still doubt me, Google “Russell Westbrook physical force,” and you’ll find over 650,000 articles.
Talen Horton-Tucker could have the best physical attributes in the league. He’s 6’4″, 235 pounds with (yes, I’m gonna mention it again) a 7’1″ wingspan. THT has the speed to guard wings and the girth to body up bigs.
Kent Bazemore is the least physically imposing of the bunch, but he’s no pushover. He’s 6’4″ 195 pounds, and he’s shown he’s not afraid to mix it up with the likes of Kawhi Leonard or Jimmy Butler.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis (along with Giannis) are the most physically imposing players in the NBA. Both players possess a blend of speed and size that makes other incredibly gifted NBA players look slow and small.
Next season we can expect three things from this group on defense:
- They’re going to rebound the heck out of the ball.
- They’re going to be more physical then any other squad in the NBA.
- They’re going to be well-coached by Frank Vogel.
Those three factors should make this five-man lineup the top peak defensive unit in the league.