Today's game the Lakers were at one point ahead of the Pelicans by more than 20 points. Unexpectedly, the 20-point lead didn't work either, and in the end they were reversed by the Pelicans. After losing this game, the Lakers fell to the tenth place in the West, and some people may think that the Lakers lost today because of luck. The Pelicans' home-court morale is good, and James sprained his ankle today in somewhat downside in the second half. In fact, these are not excuses, the Lakers have lost consecutively to the tenth place in the West, and the essence is defense.
The Lakers' current defense is really poor, completely paper paste. The Lakers have averaged 123.8 points per game in the last 10 games, ranking first in the league. A team that targets the playoffs is already losing more than 120 points per game. Why did the Lakers lose so many points? This question is worth exploring, for the following two main reasons.
The first is the Lakers' lineup, as the saying goes, it is difficult for a woman to cook without rice. Even though the Lakers players want to defend, the lineup doesn't allow them to do so. Take today's game against the Pelicans, when Vogel's lineup was very small at a critical moment, the team once sent three guards on the floor. The Lakers either fouled or watched Asgram throw in. Even the Lakers can't limit Valanciunas in the playing year with Howard, and if they play small ball, the lineup can't be restricted. After all, the difference between height and weight is too big.
The Lakers seem to have an obsession with small lineups this season, and the lineup has really improved the team's offensive performance and allowed James to play the highest offensive efficiency in recent years. But the Lakers' small lineup is based on the premise of sacrificing defense, and if the Lakers play small, there is basically no defense. There are no rebounds or baskets, and their outside defense is clearly understaffed. Westbrook, Munch, Tucker are not particularly good outside defenders, and the team will definitely have loopholes.
Point 2, the Lakers are a team with very bad defensive habits. The ability to defend is not very much about talent, but more about attitude. The Lakers' defensive ability is not good, and the defensive attitude is even more incomparable. They often retreat on the field in time, and sometimes they cross their waists to defend. It hurts the team a lot. A typical example is Tucker, who, as a talented player, has a very good physical configuration. However, his defensive awareness is very poor, sometimes his attitude is disappointing, and he often leaks people. James' average of steals and blocks per game this season has hit new highs in recent years, and sometimes James has become the player who wipes his ass.
The Lakers currently have two ways to solve the defense. First-class Davis returns, the team's interior defense is up to a notch, and their defensive problems should be solved a little. But Davis doesn't have a clear comeback time at the moment, and the team can't pin all their hopes on him. The second is to improve the defensive attitude as soon as possible, the Lakers need to fight on the court, defend hard, defend with all their lives, and do whatever it takes to win. Only in this way can they ensure their defensive stability, and the Lakers have lost consecutively due to poor defense. Now they're almost out of places in the playoffs, and that would be too disappointing for Lakers fans. Although the Lakers have been seriously affected by injuries this season, their defense has undoubtedly buried their future. Dear readers, what level of defense do you think the Lakers have defended this season? Feel free to leave a comment in the comments section below the article.