Before the season began, Walker Kessler said that the Los Angeles Lakers should have one of the best defenses in the league. In fact, he said that the Lakers have the potential to be “nasty” on the defensive end. That prediction hasn’t exactly come true so far, but it’s not Kessler’s fault. He’s holding up his end of the bargain.
Through the Lakers’ first seven games of the season, they are holding teams to the fifth-worst field goal percentage in the restricted area. Teams are shooting just 59.6% from five feet from the rim against LA. That’s all Kessler. Unfortunately, the Lakers rank just 20th in defensive rating this season (113.9).
So, even though Kessler (and the rest of LA’s big-man room) has been holding teams to poor shooting around the basket, the rest of the Lakers haven’t been amazing on defense.
Walker Kessler's defense has been great, but the rest of the Lakers' hasn't been
Kessler is one of the better rim protectors in the league. He’s an elite rebounder, but his rim protection is top-notch as well. Having him in the paint is a huge advantage for the Lakers.
He has a lot to make up for, too. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves aren’t great perimeter defenders. So, when players get by them, they have to deal with driving into Kessler, who is waiting for them at the rim.
Again, having Kessler in the paint is a luxury, but that doesn’t mean the Lakers shouldn’t be looking to improve in other areas of their defensive game. They need to.
Spending all season as (almost) a bottom-10 defense in the league isn’t going to help the Lakers achieve their ultimate goal. They want to win a championship. And you know what they say: Defense wins championships.
It was always going to be a lofty goal to be one of the best defenses in the league with the personnel the Lakers have on the roster. When your stars aren’t great defenders, it’s going to be a tough ask.
But Kessler gives the Lakers a better defensive floor than they had beforehand. A much higher defensive floor. And if they can improve on the perimeter, he’s going to keep holding things down in the paint.
So, although the Lakers haven’t quite reached the “nasty” billing that Kessler predicted for them, he’s certainly done his job very, very well.
Now, it’s up to the rest of the Lakers to pick up the pace and help Kessler take LA’s defense to another level.
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