The Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up for a pivotal second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and according to Melissa Rohlin of the California Post, one player could make or break their chances: sharpshooter Luke Kennard.
After a hard-fought series win over the Houston Rockets, the Lakers now face a Thunder squad boasting the NBA's top-rated defense—and without Luka Doncic in the lineup, Oklahoma City will likely focus their defensive pressure on LeBron James and Austin Reaves. That's where Kennard comes in.
Rohlin didn't mince words in her recent analysis: "The Lakers have a Luke Kennard problem." She explained that against the Thunder's stifling defense, Kennard will be the X-factor. "The Lakers desperately need scoring help. They need a sharpshooter to open up the court. They need a 3-point specialist," she wrote.
Kennard certainly has the credentials. During the regular season, he led the NBA in 3-point accuracy for the third time in his career, hitting an impressive 47.8% from beyond the arc. But here's the catch: he's often too selective with his shots. While his 5.2 three-point attempts per 36 minutes aren't low, they're not high volume either—especially for a team that needs consistent perimeter firepower.
After the Lakers acquired Kennard in a February trade, head coach JJ Redick encouraged him to be more aggressive in looking for his shot. But so far, the guard hasn't fully embraced that mindset. In the Rockets series, Kennard started scorching hot, dropping a combined 50 points in the first two games while shooting 17-of-26 from the field and 8-of-11 from deep. Since then, however, he's managed just 25 points over four games, shooting a frigid 26.7% overall and 15.4% from three.
Rohlin set a clear goal for Kennard heading into this series: "The Lakers need Kennard to be their third-leading scorer. To be aggressive. To hunt for his shot." Even sharing the court with stars like James and Reaves, Kennard must play with confidence and urgency. For a team built around LeBron's playmaking and Reaves' craftiness, a hot-hand shooter like Kennard could be the key to unlocking the Thunder's defense—or the reason the Lakers come up short.