Jake LaRavia knows Walker Kessler will greatly impact the way the team defends
Defense is projected by many to be an area of weakness for the Los Angeles Lakers, specifically on the perimeter. While Walker Kessler can shore up a lot of those deficiencies with his elite rim protection, it is up to the wings to apply perimeter pressure and not solely rely on Kessler.
Jake LaRavia specifically looks forward to picking up his aggressiveness as a defender due to having a deterrent at the rim.
“I love it. I love it. I’m a gambling man. So when it comes to defense, being able to play passing lanes and not have to worry about getting beat so much because you’ve got Walker as the back line defense, it’s going to make us wings and guards feel a lot more comfortable being a little bit more aggressive defensively, maybe being able to pick up fullcourt a little bit more,” LaRavia said at Media Day.
“Being able to play the passing lanes a little bit more aggressively. Just being able to pressure the ball a little more aggressively is gonna be something I’m gonna enjoy a lot just because I think I’m a physical defender. So it’s definitely gonna benefit us as a team.”
In a way, the Lakers’ perimeter defenders can gamble more, as LaRavia alluded to. Lakers head coach JJ Redick wants to alter his defensive schemes, which some allow for more aggressiveness while being more calculated in the approach.
There is a balance that needs to be found and preseason serves as an opportunity to try and find it. With players like LaRavia, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams, there are young wings that need to bring an edge defensively.
In previous seasons, Redick needed to get creative to keep his team afloat on the defensive end and now there are pieces in place to not have to think outside the box. Obviously, there are more questions than answers, but the players seem excited about their defensive potential.
Jake LaRavia: This is best training camp I’ve been part of
Training camp vibes are usually off the charts for every team due to basketball season picking up, but the Lakers appear to be extremely excited about their roster. Through the first week of camp, players love the intensity and the competitive nature appears to be off the charts.
In face, LaRavia thinks this is the best training camp he’s been a part of in four seasons in the NBA, which is promising given how many new faces there are.
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