The first week of Lakers’ training camp has passed.
asserted
week → pass → camp
It has been a whirlwind of Purple-and-Gold-smeared optimism and excitement.
asserted
It → smear → optimism
Luka Doncic is ready to lead the Lakers back atop the league as the unequivocal head of the 17-time championship franchise.
Austin Reaves wants to live up to his new four-year, $180 million contract.
asserted
Reaves → lead → contract
Walker Kessler is ready to run through walls.
asserted
Kessler → run → walls
Lakers’ perimeter defense is better than expected
asserted
defense → expect → ?
If you asked any scout what the Lakers’ biggest hole was heading into the season, the response would’ve been unanimous: perimeter defense.
asserted
response → ask → season
Only, the players say that’s wildly incorrect.
asserted
that → say → ?
In fact, Lakers coach JJ Redick cut practice short Wednesday because the competition became so intense.
asserted
competition → cut → practice
And it’s obvious that those spots will be won by defensive effort.
asserted
spots → ’ → effort
Kessler, who is the Lakers’ defensive anchor down low, has been impressed by what he has seen so far.
asserted
he → impress → what
“I think we’re going to be a nasty defensive team, I’m just being honest,” Kessler said.
asserted
Kessler → think → ?
“Just seeing these guys hound the ball on the perimeter.”
asserted
guys → see → perimeter
Kessler said people “aren’t taking into account” how good the Lakers’ perimeter defense will be, adding that this roster has the intelligence and skill to surpass expectations.
But one question in particular stumped Kessler.
asserted
question → say → Kessler
Who stood out?
asserted
Who → stand → ?
“I mean, Thi [Adou Thiero], Ziaire [Williams], Quentin [Grimes], Bull [Matisse Thybulle], Van [Jarred Vanderbilt], Jake [LaRavia] — I could go through the whole team,” he said.
uncertain
he → mean → team
“Everyone’s got their own strengths, weaknesses.
asserted
Everyone → get → weaknesses
But I think that these guys are really good at not allowing their weaknesses to show and really focusing on their strengths, and [making] sure that’s what’s pushing them forward, especially on the defensive side.”
asserted
what → think → side
2. Lakers believe they’ll be championship contenders this season
It was obvious last season that the Lakers were heads and shoulders behind the top teams in the West, including the Thunder and Spurs.
asserted
Lakers → believe → Thunder
They lost their four regular-season matchups against the Thunder by an average of 29.3 points and then were swept out of the playoffs by Oklahoma City in the second round.
asserted
They → lose → round
Oh, then the Thunder lost to the Spurs in the Western Conference finals.
asserted
Thunder → lose → finals
The Lakers responded by completely overhauling their roster last summer, adding youth and speed.
asserted
Lakers → respond → youth
But let’s be real: It still seemed as though they were a few tweaks away from being able to contend.
asserted
they → let → ?
And they definitely needed time to jell, especially considering the Thunder and Spurs have been deep into the playoffs with their rosters.
asserted
Thunder → need → rosters
But the Lakers don’t think it will take time.
asserted
it → think → time
They believe they’ve arrived.
asserted
they → believe → ?
Said Redick: “I’m confident we’re gonna develop as a team into a championship-level team this year.”
asserted
we → say → team
When Reaves was asked if he agreed, he didn’t hesitate.
asserted
he → ask → ?
“I do,” he said.
asserted
he → do → ?
“Let me tell you, trying to score on Matisse and Ziaire, especially with Adou out there, too, and then Walker on the back line is not easy.
asserted
trying → let → line
I had to deal with that all day yesterday and today, and it’s not fun.
asserted
it → have → that
So, defensively, we’re going to be much better.”
asserted
we → go → ?
That’s great news for a team that finished 19th in defensive rating last season.
asserted
that → ’ → rating
Kessler also believes the Larry O’Brien Trophy is within the team’s grasp.
asserted
Trophy → believe → grasp
“I believe so,” he said.
asserted
he → believe → ?
”
3. Get ready for Luka
A fire was lit under Doncic as soon as he was shockingly dealt by the Mavericks to the Lakers in February 2025.
asserted
he → get → February
Those flames were fanned when LeBron James left Los Angeles in free agency.
asserted
James → fan → agency
And he’s ready.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
He says he’s fully healthy after missing last postseason because of a strained hamstring.
asserted
he → say → hamstring
He recently made five consecutive half-court shots, stunning Reaves into pausing his own news conference to marvel at the feat.
asserted
He → make → feat
He helped handpick the roster, telling Lakers brass that he wanted Reaves and Kessler as his teammates.
asserted
Reaves → help → teammates
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
