How Walker Kessler Transformed Lakers Offensively & Defensively! While it was just one game, replacing aging superstar LeBron James with promising young defensive center Walker Kessler has transformed the Los Angeles Lakers into a championship caliber team whose new puzzle pieces perfectly fit and whose players fully understand and embrace their roles. What stands out most through the first two games is the instant chemistry between Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler. Lakers’ head coach JJ Redick noted that this is the first time during his tenure that the roster’s pieces have truly fit together. The Lakers gambled Walker Kessler would be the perfect two-way center to anchor their defense and optimize Luka Dončić’s and Austin Reaves’ offense. What the Lakers unleashed in these first two games was even more impressive than they expected. The Lakers’ new big three of Dončić, Reaves, and Kessler look like they have played together for years rather than just two games, posting a stellar 127.1 offensive rating and a punishing 97.9 defensive rating for a +29.2 net rating. Even more impressive is the balanced scoring: all three stars scored more than 20 points in both contests. Luka Dončić averaged 25.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists; Austin Reaves contributed 25.5 points, 3.0 boards, and 7.5 assists; and Walker Kessler anchored the effort with an impressive 24.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks per game. While replacing aging 41-year old superstar LeBron James with promising 24-year old center Walker Kessler was the centerpiece of the Lakers’ massive offseason makeover and modernization, the performance of the their young center in the first two games was beyond their most optimistic expectations. While the Lakers’ former big three of Dončić, James, and Reaves was always an uncomfortable short-term teaming, the Lakers’ new big three of trio Dončić, Reaves, and Kessler offers a more seamless and synergistic fit that elevates the all three star’s individual impact. Although it is only a two-game sample size vs. overmatched opponents, Walker Kessler has already exceeded the Lakers’ expectations. LA’s bold gamble to sacrifice two first-round picks, two pick swaps, and a four-year, $130M contract initially appears to be a big success. Kessler’s immediate rapport between with Dončić and Reaves confirms how well the Lakers’ new big three fit. Let’s examine further how Walker Kessler transformed the Lakers into an offensive juggernaut and defensive powerhouse. ... How Kessler Transforms Lakers Into Offensive Juggernaut While expectations were high for Walker Kessler to bolster the Lakers’ defense, his immediate impact on the offense has been a revelation. After just two games, the Lakers have climbed from their respectable #10 offensive rating of 117.0 last season to a league-leading 123.5, a surge fueled by the dominating offensive interior presence of their new young center. What Walker Kessler has done in just two games is to redefine the kind of center that best fits their elite offensive backcourt of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Rather than high-fliers like Dereck Lively or Jaxson Hayes who can throw down one-handed dunks but don’t have the size or bulk to be in the right position when Dončić or Reaves need them to be, every single one of Kessler’s 15 dunks this season was a two-handed power dunk. In the first two games, Walker Kessler has shown Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves that he can be an even better volume lob dunker than a high flier because he has the size, motor, and instincts to always be in the right place. Walker was the first Lakers’ center since Wilt to have ten dunks in a game. Beyond his role as an elite interior presence who consistently positions himself for lobs, Walker Kessler is an exceptional rim runner who moves remarkably well for a player of his stature. Of his fifteen dunks through the first two games, five occurred in transition as layup or follow up dunks. Kessler’s ability to quickly sprint the floor is a rare asset, fitting perfectly into the Lakers’ high-tempo, high motor offense. Walker is a unique talent; rarely do seven-foot-two, 245-pound centers possess the mobility to elevate rather than hinder a team’s fast breaks. Kessler’s speed is a silver lining. The contrast in motor and mentality between Walker Kessler and last year’s center, Deandre Ayton, is also both striking and refreshing. Where Ayton viewed the rim-running, screen-setting responsibilities of a traditional big man as beneath him, Kessler has fully embraced the multifaceted role the Lakers require at both ends of the floor. Rather than waiting for plays to be drawn up for him or expressing frustration regarding his touches, Kessler embodies the ideal Lakers teammate: he understands his role, buys into the team-first culture, and executes with precision. While it’s only two games, Walker Kessler’s vertical spacing has been a game changer with the potential to transform the Lakers into an offensive juggernaut. While opposing teams will be forced to focus on stopping the Kessler dunks off lobs, it will be interesting to see how the Lakers adjust. Despite turning the ball over almost 20 times a game and Luke Dončić not yet playing at his normal superstar level, the Lakers 123.5 offensive rating was #1 in the league after the first two games and confirmed that Walkeer Kessler may have transformed the Lakers into an offensive juggernaut. ... How Kessler Transforms Lakers Into Defensive Powerhouse The Lakers’ primary motivation in acquiring Walker Kessler was to secure a tier-one rim protector to anchor their defense. Kessler’s addition empowers their perimeter defenders to play more aggressively, knowing a defensive stalwart always has their backs. Kessler immediately validated this gamble, averaging 5.5 defensive rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 4.0 blocks per game. Through his first two appearances, he spearheaded a formidable defense that currently boasts a 108.3 rating — #12 in the league up from #20 last season— and solidifies his role as the cornerstone of the Lakers’ defense. Last season, the Lakers struggled defensively, ranking #22 in the league with just 4.3 blocks per game. Through the first two games of this season, they have surged to #5 with 7.0 blocks per game — an improvement spearheaded by Walker Kessler, who is currently tied with Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama for the league lead at 4.0 blocks per contest. While he recorded two blocks against an undersized Warriors squad, he truly broke out against the Clippers, tallying six blocks and countless altered shots by roaming the paint while a Lakers’ forward guarded the opposing center. From swatting perimeter shots to anchoring the interior, Kessler has been exactly the defensive stabilizer the Lakers envisioned. By employing a roaming drop coverage that keeps him anchored in the paint, Walker Kessler has empowered the Lakers’ perimeter defenders to play with newfound aggression. These defenders can now press the point of attack with confidence, knowing they have a reliable safety net if beaten off the dribble. This defensive structure fueled a surge in steals from 8.5 per game last season to 12.0 this year, propelling the team to a #12 defense. The Lakers’ defense would have ranked in the league’s top five if not for the points allowed from the offense’s turnovers, underscoring how Kessler has turned the Lakers perimeter defense into a strength rather than liability. After spending his first four years on a Jazz team that prioritized tanking over winning, the real challenge for Walker Kessler will come when he has to play against All-NBA centers like San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren, or New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns. While with Utah, Kessler generally struggled against the top-tier centers. The Lakers hope playing with elite offensive playmakers like Dončić and Reaves will turbocharge Kessler’s offense and being surrounded by a deep rotation of high-motor point-of-attack guards and wings will empower his defense to rise against other top-tier centers. Walker Kessler’s defensive impact has been the primary catalyst for the Lakers’ resurgence this season. By anchoring the interior with elite rim protection, he has empowered the perimeter defenders to play with newfound aggression and confidence. Ultimately, Kessler’s presence has transformed the Lakers into a formidable defensive powerhouse. lakertom.medium.com/how-walk…

LAKERS MUST KEEP MATISSE AND ZIAIRE! Assuming the Lakers finish the season as a non-taxpayer, they would be able to use their $16.1M NT MLE and the $5.8M NT BAE to re-sign Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams long-term. Starting a pair of minimum salary players over two players - Sandro Mamukelashvili and Quentin Grimes - was a bold move by JJ Redick that appears to have been a smart decision. In 3 games, Thybulle shot 7-15 from deep for 46.7% with 6 steals and 3 blocks while Williams shot 5-12 for 41.7% with 4 steals and 1 block. The stats confirm that Thybulle and Williams were the perfect pair of 3&D players for the Lakers to add to their Big Three of Doncic, Reaves, and Kessler. All they need to be a legitimate contender this season is a quality rim protector to backup Walker Kessler.

LAKERS RAIN THREES ON JAZZ! The Utah Jazz were clearly determined to prevent Walker Kessler from having a big game following his off-season trade. By over-committing on pick-and-rolls and clogging the paint, the Jazz effectively neutralized Kessler, but their defensive strategy left them highly vulnerable to the Lakers’ high-volume three-point shooting, especially from the corners. Last night, the Lakers’ offseason focus on increasing three-point volume paid off as the team rained shots on the Jazz, hitting 20 of 47 attempts for a 42.6% success rate. Luka Dončić led the charge, draining 8 of 18 from deep — including three consecutive clutch triples in the last four minutes. Austin Reaves contributed an efficient 4-of-5 performance, including a game sealing three with 30 seconds left, while Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams capitalized on corner opportunities, each hitting 3 of 7 as Utah’s defense overcommitted to neutralizing Walker Kessler. Last night’s victory served as a crucial gut-check for this Lakers squad. We finally witnessed the MVP-caliber performance from Luka Dončić and the All-Star form of Austin Reaves, both of which highlighted the immense value of a deep, versatile bench. While the team managed a successful nine-man rotation with Thiero and Carr sidelined, the Laker’s slow start underscored a lingering issue: the lack of a reliable backup for Walker Kessler. Kevon Looney has struggled to fill that void, and addressing this position is the final step for the Lakers to cement themselves as legitimate championship contenders. Pelinka needs to solve that problem soon

Are You Entertained? The First Luka Magic Show of the Season digginbasketball.substack.co…