LOS ANGELES – It’s been an odd start to the season for the Los Angeles Lakers through the first weeks of the season. While they sit with a respectable 5-3 record, it’s still very difficult to gauge where they are amidst injuries to key rotation players and a relatively soft schedule against young teams.
Coming into the season, the concern was how the offense was going to mesh with the addition of All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook to a nucleus that already included superstars in LeBron James and Anthony Davis. While that area remains a work-in-progress despite some improvement, the defense has become a more significant concern.
For the past two years, defense has been a major strength for the Lakers under defensive-minded head coach Frank Vogel as the team was among the league leaders in defensive rating. It’s been the backbone of their success including their 2020 NBA championship.
However, even with all of the veterans they have assembled including ones that helped them win it all two years ago, the Lakers have struggled to keep their opponents’ offense in check through this first month.
The Lakers are currently ranked 17th in defensive rating surrendering 107 points per game, 22nd in defensive rebounding, 27th in opponents’ second chance points, and 30th in the league in opponents’ paint points allowing nearly 54 points per game. That’s very surprising considering their size and length in the frontcourt.
It’s because of their lack of defense that the Lakers blew a 26-point lead to the rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder in a stunning loss last week. Not to mention, it’s also a reason why many of their games even their wins have been decided in the final minutes against subpar teams.
Their inability to get stops and have a defensive stand has been a reason why they have played in so many close games. This has forced their stars like James, Davis, and Westbrook to play heavier minutes than necessary against teams they should be routing.
It’s too early to press the panic button on the Lakers’ defense. There are role players still missing and many guys trying to get comfortable in their new surroundings and a new system. However, it does raise the question of having the right personnel who will buy-in to and execute Vogel’s defensive schemes.
In previous years, defensive stalwarts like Danny Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Alex Caruso set the tone on that end with their energy and effort. So far, nobody on this squad has made that same impact consistently nor has anyone become a more vocal leader to put guys in the right spots.
The other incentive in playing great team defense allows them to force turnovers which ignites a devastating transition game led by Westbrook and James.
This team was built to be stronger offensively with more outside shooting and brought Westbrook aboard to give them another playmaking star to take pressure off of LeBron.
It’s unknown if the Lakers’ defense will resemble those other teams in previous years. If they want to get back to that point, it will take health, effort, intensity, and working together as a unit to become an elite defense.
Vogel has noticed improvements on the defensive end each night and acknowledges building a great team defense is like building a house. It needs the right construction and will take time to build properly, but once it’s done, it will look great.
