The LA Lakers have come crashing down to earth after a brilliant 3-0 start, with the lowest point of the season coming in their recent loss to Detroit Pistons which has them 4-3 after seven games.
Anthony Davis is playing at a world-class level, LeBron James continues to beat Father Time by developing a genuine three-point shot despite nearing 40, and JJ Redick has been a steady hand at the wheel.
Even Bronny James has got the odd minutes and is breaking record with his father but overall, the season looks like it is trending downwards instead of up.
What, then, is the problem? Kendrick Perkins broke down the LA Lakers‘ biggest problem, naming two individuals who are largely to blame for it.
The Lakers are sixth in the league for Offensive Rating, touching triple figures in every game. Even their three losses have been by a margin of four, six, and, 12 points.
The 12-point loss to the Pistons, however, is the most recent one and it continues the alarming trend of the Lakers losing their identity after a good start.
Perkins was on ESPN and laid out some numbers that proved that the Lakers are playing one end of the game at an elite level but are an absolute disaster on the other.
Perkins said: “JJ Redick has done a fantastic job as a first-year head coach on the offensive end. Now he has to realise that there are two ends he needs to be coaching.
“Lakers have the sixth-worst defensive efficiency, they’ve given up fourth-most points in the paint per game and they have a problem on the perimeter.
“Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell, they can give you something on the offensive end but defensively they’re going to be a liability night in and night out.
“I don’t care if they’re on the East Coast, West Coast, North Pole, or South Pole, they’re going to get cooked in this game when it’s full of talent, especially on the perimeter.”
The Lakers conceding fourth-most points/game in the paint is an unbelievable stat when their paint protector in Anthony Davis is playing at such a high level.
The reality is that the perimeter defense is failing to stop any drives into the paint and the sheer volume of shots the opponent is getting from close is unsustainable.
As constructed, Lakers are too soft on the perimeter and the abundance of fringe guys they have on the roster can’t be trusted to make a difference.
They are getting into shootouts which makes every game a lottery as they will beat teams on the day if their three-point shot is falling.
Perkins conveniently missed out on speaking about LeBron James when talking about the defensive effort when the reality is that James has also started stealing time on that end to make a difference offensively.
He should be allowed some leeway, of course, due to his age and he can’t be overburdened with responsibility on both ends but the Lakers’ roster just can’t afford to do so.
Something will have to give because as it stands, their ceiling is a team that can win a game or two to qualify for the playoffs and then become a footnote in the journey of a genuine contender.
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