NBA Insider: Lakers Feel 'Blueprint' with LeBron, Luka is 'to Try to Outscore Teams'

Defense wins championships, according to the old adage, but that may not be the Los Angeles Lakers' formula for winning now that they've paired Luka Dončić with LeBron James.

The Athletic's Jovan Buha said in the newest episode of his Buha's Block podcast that "the blueprint to winning is just going to be going smaller and trying to outscore teams" based on conversations he's had with people inside the organization.

Absent further additions between now and Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, there isn't much alternative for head coach JJ Redick and his staff.

The Lakers are 21st in defensive rating (114.1), per NBA.com, and the Dončić trade, for all of its benefits, makes them worse at that end of the floor. Los Angeles lost an elite defender in Anthony Davis and is now reduced to starting Jaxson Hayes at center. Going from Max Christie and Dončić is a net-downgrade in terms of perimeter defense, too.

During Tuesday's introductory press conference for Dončić, general manager Rob Pelinka acknowledged the need for a center and said a trade to address that need could materialize:

Maybe the right player becomes available for a reasonable price, and he can make a meaningful defensive impact in the paint.

Otherwise, offense figures to be the Lakers' calling card for the rest of the season, until Pelinka and the front office have more time to evaluate the market and consider prospective targets.