Corey Brewer scored just five points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 132-130 win over the Phoenix Suns last Friday, but it’s his defensive brilliance that stood out for him in the victory. Brewer had three steals and a team-best +14 plus/minus rating.

Still, defense remains a big problem for the Lakers. They just gave up over 130 points to Phoenix, a team expected to wallow in the bottom of the standings this season.  Defense was a big problem for the Lakers last season in which the team gave up the most points to opponents per 100 possessions.

But if you ask Corey Brewer, the team is going to be just fine letting other teams pile points on them because he believes that the Lakers, propelled by the playmaking of rookie Lonzo Ball, will be able to return the favor to opponents on offense.

Per Bill Oram of the Los Angeles Daily News:

“We’ve got to play better defense,” Brewer said. “But offensively everything was clicking for us. If we play like that offensively, we play (just) a little defense, we’re going to beat a lot of teams.”

“For me, I get to watch these young guys develop and I get to have fun playing basketball,” Brewer said. “With Lonzo out there playing the way he plays, (when) he starts playing fast, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Lonzo Ball, drafted second overall by the Lakers in the 2017 NBA Draft, had an underwhelming pro debut, scoring just three points on a horrid 1-of-6 shooting from the field in a 108-92 loss to the L.A. Clippers, but quickly rebounded, nearly recording a triple-double in the said win over Phoenix, notching 29 points to go with 11 rebounds, and nine assists.

There’s a messianic responsibility riding on the shoulders of Ball, seen by a Lakers fanbase as the team’s key to turning the fortunes of the franchise around, and like them, the 31-year-old Brewer appeared to have become a believer.