Los Angeles Lakers wing Ziaire Williams said recently during an interview that "there's not really anything I'm not comfortable with [defensively]." It was a claim that got Lakers fans excited about Williams' versatility on defense and potential willingness to do the dirty work. And on Monday night in Williams' preseason debut for the Lakers, he backed up that claim. Well ... almost.
From the opening tip of LA's bludgeoning of the Sacramento Kings, Williams was picking up Kings rookie Darius Acuff full court. Williams had literally said days prior that he was comfortable picking up 94 feet, and here he was doing exactly that.
It wasn't just his effort, but also his box score, that made Williams' debut seem like a clear success, at least on the surface. The 25-year-old was a perfect 3-of-3 from three, never hesitating when the ball found him offensively.
With all of the above said, Williams' performance overall on Monday still revealed his inexperience.
Ziaire Williams' effort and shooting didn't tell the whole story of his Lakers debut
Though Williams was indeed pressing Acuff full court, the Kings guard got the better of Williams on multiple occasions, leaving Williams in the dust for layups or pull-up jumpers in the first half. Of Acuff's 19 points on the night, 17 came in the first half, much of the time when guarded by Williams.
Williams also struggled getting around screens on multiple possessions and showed that he still needs to improve his awareness as a team defender. This can and should all happen over the course of the season, but it's important to acknowledge that there will be a learning curve.
The Lakers have a very interesting situation on the wing, seeing as multiple guys are competing for rotation spots, Williams among them. Williams has the athleticism, length, and willpower to influence things defensively at a high level, but he'll need to improve quickly from an IQ and schematic standpoint to really stick in J.J. Redick's nightly plan.
It's not speed or strength that will help the Lakers make up for the defensive deficiencies of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, but rather positional awareness, discipline, and team chemistry defensively. In other words, Williams' physical gifts alone won't be a true asset to the Lakers unless he's able to apply those gifts within a collective scheme.
There's little point in being too hard on Williams after one preseason. It's also worth noting that some of his Lakers teammates failed as help defenders on some of the aforementioned Acuff drives. If anything, Williams' situation defensively symbolizes what the Lakers will need to do as a team from now until the playoffs -- cash in on their youth and athleticism by improving as a cohesive defensive unit from week to week. It's a long season, and there's plenty of time for the growth needed.
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