NBA Insider believes a specific but simple defensive scheme would deem LeBron James and the Lakers powerless next season
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LeBron James and the Lakers have officially become Nets-level threats to the NBA’s hierarchy. Or at the very least, they are a team that is incredibly close to the level of Brooklyn.
Apart from age, this team doesn’t have any massive weaknesses anymore. Sure, shooting was one of them earlier. But, since then, the franchise has added some really good 3-and-D veterans who can contribute at a high level.
Despite all this though, there are still quite a few in the NBA community, that believe this team is about as resilient as a castle made up of cards. To these people, there are still questions to be answered by the team on the topics of fit, and shooting. And it seems NBA reporter and Insider, Gerald Bourguet is no different.
What did he say about the Lakers, you ask?
Well, let’s get into it.
Gerald Bourguet believes a simple 2-3 zone would kill the Lakers, as NBA Twitter reacts to it
Now isn’t that a Skip Bayless-esque, sizzling hot take?
First off, to be fair to the reporter, he could be right. Nothing has been or can be proven as right or wrong until we see the season progress, and identify which schemes work against which teams.
Still, how did all this start? Well, a fan posted a relatively innocent post on Twitter. And it seems Bourguet just HAD TO respond to it.
A 2-3 zone. https://t.co/PXyLgUaA1z
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) August 7, 2021
And, here is how NBA Twitter reacted.
Any team playing them after 20 games. AD will hurt his ankle/something. Carmelo doesn’t do enough, Westbrook is an animal but can’t shoot and Lebron will be busy making SpaceJam 2 after AD gets hurt.
— Body (@RGK91605631) August 8, 2021
In what world is a 2-3 zone going to stop that? lol
— Mello (@MelloMcduck) August 8, 2021
The only team in the west who can effectively use a 2-3 zone against Lebron and Russ would probably be the Clippers. Zones have gaps and Lebron and Russ can attack them, drawing double teams all day. Not to mention the best lob target in the history of the nba there.
— Monk (@PnRorPnP) August 8, 2021
Melo isn’t even a starter anymore. Him and Dwight will be exhausted midway through the 1st and AD’s nickname is Street clothes. This team is 5th in the West. Maybe….
— MileHighFAL (@Logie_Bear_Hug) August 9, 2021
Personally, we don’t know if it’ll be that simple. Sure, given the right personnel, a 2-3 zone could work perfectly. But, both LeBron James and Russell Westbrook are extremely cerebral players.
So will this scheme work? Or will the Lakers prove Gerald Bourguet embarrassingly wrong?
Only time will tell.
