I know what you’re thinking… Here comes Mr. Publishes a Lakers article every once in a while, showing up now that the team is 2-0 just to find something he doesn't like. If that’s indeed what you thought clicking on this article, you’re right!
All jokes aside, the Lakers' start to the season has been great. Sure, the two teams they’ve beaten project to be at the bottom of the standings in the Western Conference this season, but hey, beat the teams in front of you.
So far, this new Luka Doncic-led offense has been super fun to watch, with Walker Kessler diving through the lanes, catching lobs, and finishing plays, while also protecting the rim on the other side of the ball. But what has life been like when he steps off the court? It’s looked like hell on earth.
So, that’s where my focus is today, because I don’t see this group surviving the Western Conference and finishing as a top-four seed unless they address that need soon.
Sandro Mamukelashvili offers too many defensive problems for the Lakers
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big Sandro Mamukelashvili guy, and I enjoy Kevon Looney. I cover the New Orleans Pelicans and live in Toronto, so I’m super familiar with the experience of both of them as basketball players over the last year. That is why I was skeptical when the plan was to have them back up Kessler.
Let’s start with Mamu because I don’t think he’s as big of a problem as the Looney signing.
Here's what Lakers fans will soon realize about Mamu: he's such a good connective piece offensively, no matter what frontcourt position he’s playing. He stretches the floor, can put the ball on the deck, and is a smart playmaker.
Defensively, it’s a different story. Mamu can hold his own when he has another big man next to him, but when he’s asked to be a primary rim protector, it’s ugly for two main reasons. He doesn’t move his feet well enough when thrown into ball-screen actions, and ball-screen actions seem to overwhelm him at times.
That leads to possessions where he’s frantic on the perimeter, and nearly every time someone from the other team is left open as a result. This wasn't as much of an issue for the Toronto Raptors last regular season because Darko Rajakovic often staggered his minutes with Scottie Barnes to ensure an elite defender was protecting the basket with him.
Outside of Kessler, LA doesn’t have anyone who can do that.
Kevon Looney does not have the athletic pop and rim defense Luka Doncic needs
Unlike Mamu, the Looney signing never made sense to me. At least with Mamu, you get, as I mentioned, a high-end spacer and connective piece who can thrive next to Kessler. Looney couldn’t get minutes on the Pelicans last season.
Somehow, on Friday night, Looney logged under five minutes and was a minus-9 on the box score. How does that happen?
Well, because he is too slow and clearly way better suited to be a veteran locker-room presence than an on-court one. With Mamu and Looney as the backup center rotation, handing away free layups like Costco with free samples, LA will keep having games where they are getting fried by players like 38-year-old Brook Lopez.
I will reference my friend, fellow co-host of The Raptors Real Talk podcast and Site Expert here at Lake Show Life, Svyatoslav Rovenchuk. He has forever driven home the point that playing center next to Luka Doncic isn't hard.
So I ask Rob Pelinka to go find someone who has some athletic pop and can defend the rim at an average level. Normally, I would suggest some names, but it’s late, and I’m tired. Pelinka, the ball's in your court.
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