The Los Angeles Lakers head into the new season with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler as the foundation of their new-look roster. But Jason Timpf of The Volume Sports sees questions surrounding both the availability of the Lakers’ two primary ball-handlers and how the team will defend with Kessler behind them.
Speaking on Yahoo Sports’ The Dunker Spot, Timpf explained why the Lakers’ investment in their new core could depend heavily on keeping Doncic and Reaves available.
“This goes for him and Luka, but they got to take care of their bodies,” Timpf said. “Austin does take care of his body, but I think what has happened is, as his usage has gone up, it’s become clear that he’s needed to put more work into his body to be able to handle the additional usage now that he’s like a premier ball handler in this league.”
The concern has some recent context. Doncic suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain on April 2 and missed the Lakers’ final 15 regular-season games as well as their entire playoff run. Reaves also suffered an oblique strain in the same game and missed the remainder of the regular season.
Doncic still finished the regular season averaging 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game, while Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists.
“Luka took a big step forward last year and then he broke down again. So, I think there’s another level for him to get to as well. But I think both of those two, and maybe they can be accountability partners for each other, but the two of them have to find a way to stay healthy and stay on the floor.”
The Lakers managed to beat the Houston Rockets in six games despite Doncic’s absence, with Reaves returning during the series. Los Angeles then lost all four games of its second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Timpf believes the possibility of Doncic or Reaves missing time also helps explain the addition of Collin Sexton.
“Because Luka and Austin might miss games and you need someone that can run ball screens with Walker and give you a credible offensive floor. And I think that’s why they chose [Collin Sexton] over Marcus Smart. I really don’t think it’s any more complicated than that.”
Kessler gives the Lakers a very different presence in the middle. The 7-foot-2 center played only five games for Utah last season before a torn posterior labrum in his left shoulder ended his campaign. He averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.8 blocks in those games.
Timpf expects Los Angeles to protect Kessler defensively, particularly when Doncic and Reaves share the floor.
“When I think about especially the starting group with Austin and Luka on the floor, I kind of imagine more of a passive approach with Kessler, where they try to keep him near the basket as much as possible and more of a load up with your help and then force the skip pass and give up more in the sense of catch-and-shoot opportunities and closeout opportunities on the weak side.”
The bigger concern, however, is what happens when that defensive approach faces a playoff opponent that has time to attack specific weaknesses.
Timpf pointed to the 2020-21 Jazz as an example. Utah went 52-20 and finished with the fourth-best defensive rating in the NBA at 108.3 points allowed per 100 possessions. The Jazz then took a 2-0 lead over the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round before losing four straight games and the series.
“Any good team can kind of take Walker out of the equation and attack in specific ways that consistently generates great shots because they’re just attacking the right parts of the Lakers’ defense. That’s more of my worry.”
Timpf also identified turnovers as another area Reaves needs to improve, particularly against teams that apply heavy pressure.
“Austin against the better ball-pressure teams in the league just seemed to get a little sped up and a little mistake-prone.”
Still, his overall view of Reaves remains positive. Timpf pointed to the guard’s continued development and his ability to address weaknesses from one season to the next.
“I am just a huge believer in Austin. I think he’s awesome and he, as a guy who’s in like his late 20s, is still making dramatic improvements year-over-year.”
For the Lakers, the questions are closely connected. Doncic and Reaves will carry much of the offensive workload, while Kessler is expected to anchor the defense. Sexton gives Los Angeles another ball-handler if either guard misses time, but the team’s new core will still have to stay healthy and find a defensive structure that can hold up when the postseason arrives.