Kendrick Perkins, ESPN personality, called out the Los Angeles Lakers and believes that “no one is worried” about their participation in the NBA.
The old NBA Big Man took a dig at the Lakers and proclaimed they were “not a threat in the Western Conference” in a fiery rant on Thursday’s edition of First Take.
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Perkins was joined by host Christine Williamson, who was filling in for the absent Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smithwho are both on vacation.
Former NBA star Austin Rivers and basketball insider Brian Windhorst also appeared for the segment discussing the Lakers.
The panel discussed whether the Lakers were still a threat in the Western Conference.
They are the 10th seed with a 34-30 record and are coming off a double-digit loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.
Perkins said no Western team with a chance in the playoffs is afraid of Lakers.
“No, they’re not a threat in the Western Conference,” Perkins said.
“That’s not the case. We need to stop saying that. Nobody in the playoff race or in the picture is worried about the Los Angeles Lakers.”
He went on to point out that Los Angeles’ defense is terrible and that the team needs to be more consistent on both sides of the ball.
“They can’t keep a car parked,” Perkins said.
“They are struggling to find a consistent identity on both ends of the pitch. Darvin Ham doesn’t know what formations he wants to throw there.
“They are everywhere.”
Perkins finished by clarifying that he would choose the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors over the Lakers in the playoffs.
“Right now, the Warriors are better than the Lakers. If they face each other in the play-in tournament, I would take the Warriors,” he said.
The Lakers lost 130-120 to the Kings on Wednesday, and after the game, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham spoke about the team’s frustration.
“The cavalry won’t come,” said Ham.
“We have 18 [games] LEFT. We just have to buckle down and try to do a better job.
