The Los Angeles Lakers’ place in the postseason is far from sealed. Currently in fourth place, the Purple and Gold can still catch up to the Denver Nuggets for third or even drop to as far as eighth if their recent trend of lackluster defense continues. Safe to say, this time of the season is not the best time to be slacking off on the defensive end.
According to ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins, the Lakers, especially superstar guard Luka Doncic, better shape up on that end of the floor if they want to make some noise in the loaded Western Conference.
Perkins, a 6’10” big man who played in 143 playoff games, knows all too well how the intensity is ratcheted up in the postseason. And at this point, contending teams are already gearing up to bring the pain in the NBA Playoffs. However, according to the outspoken commentator from Texas, the Lakers have missed that memo.
Teams that are considered legit title contenders right now — their coaches are mixing it up a little bit. Meaning that their teams are playing at a high level. They’re figuring out different rotations, they’re throwing in different types of defensive schemes, offensive sets — they’re mixing it up, getting ready and gearing up for the postseason,” Perk said on “NBA Today.
Perk, who won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2008, has an issue with Doncic’s defensive efforts. Although it’s widely known that defense has never been the Slovenian’s strongest suit, Kendrick asserted he must do better or risk becoming a liability once the postseason rolls around.
The defensive effort that Luka has been putting forth has to be called out. He has to do better defensively. He has to bring that energy like he does on the offensive side of things. He cannot be a liability because teams are going to search him out, especially when you look at the athleticism that they have around the league at the wing and guard positions,” Perk stated.
To be fair, Doncic, a five-time All-Star and All-NBA Team member in his seven seasons in the league, is no stranger to the postseason, having played 50 games on that battleground. This means he’s aware of what opponents would do when he’s on defense. Former All-Star forward Carlos Boozer reminded Slovenian of what’s to come if he doesn’t dig his heels down on defense.
Playoff basketball, you’re going to put Luka in help-side positions where he’s got to be the helper. Put him in pick-and-rolls where he’s got to be the one that shows on the guard. They’re going to put him in every scenario to have to play defense and think as a defender,” Booz explained.
They gave up 70 points to the Chicago Bulls in the paint the other day — 146 points total. There’s no way they’re going to catch up to OKC in the playoffs and knock off the Denver Nuggets on the way to a Western Conference or a title run if they’re playing defense like this,” the former Duke Blue Devil stressed.
At best, the Lakers’ defense is average—something that just won’t cut it against the powerhouse teams that prowl the Wild West. With playoff positioning on the line, “Luka Magic” and the Lakers need to step up their defensive game if they want to make a deep run in the postseason.
