I'll admit that from a philosophical standpoint, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has all the right ideas. How does one defend against a team that scores at will from the perimeter. The answer is simple: outfit your roster with versatile defenders that can defend against multiple positions in the case of lineup shuffles. LeBron's four year window and many of the Warrior's multiyear run parallel contracts draw a parallel, so why not look elsewhere for schematics.
"If your goal is to win a championship, you've got to look at the way the champs are assembled and how you can give yourself the best chance to take them down," said Pelinka in a press conference this afternoon. The Lakers' had a high-level conversation with LeBron and Magic Johnson, and men left assured of his plan.
"No one is going to beat them at their own game, so that is why we wanted to add these elements of defense and toughness and depth and try to look at areas where we will have an advantage," finished saying before turning over to individual profile of the players he recruited next to LeBron. Part of the plan was to highlight organizational strength they already had under contract.
Pelinka identified sophomore as a pitbull defender, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as a versatile defender that has shown flashes beyond the three point arc., Rondo as a historically tough defender, and Lance Stephenson as proven "agitator." With the defensive side of the court spoken for, Lakers' management now has to address which players will relied upon offensively. The answer likely lies in the development of their budding prospects such as Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball.
