5 things the Lakers can learn from how Boston, Dallas reached 2024 NBA Finals

2. A perimeter star is essential to success

The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks are teams that understand the value of size. Boston traded for Kristaps Porzingis for that very reason, while Dallas acquired Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington after previously drafting Dereck Lively II.

For as true as that all may be, teams simply cannot win a championship in the modern era without an elite perimeter player leading the offensive charge.

Dallas is an extreme example of this, as they're the rare NBA Finals team that has two ball-dominant All-Stars in the same backcourt. Regardless of how rarely that approach pans out, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving fit the consistent theme of star-caliber perimeter players playing featured roles on champions and contenders.

It's hardly an exaggeration to say that Dallas' offense lives and dies by their ability to create penetration and either get to the basket or find opponents along the perimeter.

In Boston, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are proven postseason performers who are both of an All-NBA caliber. They take more of a pure scoring approach than Doncic and Irving, but their ability to create from 24 feet is vital to the Celtics' success.

If the retort here is the championship success of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, don't lose sight of how elite both Jamal Murray and Khris Middleton were during those runs.

If the Lakers are looking to win beyond the LeBron James era, then finding a perimeter star is going to be essential.