DETROIT — There are definitely multiple angles to consider here.
The Lakers have shown marked improvements on the defensive front in recent weeks, contributing to their impressive record of 12 wins in their last 13 games. This includes a nine-game winning streak as they approached their Monday matchup with the Pistons.
They’ve tightened up their perimeter defense and have done a better job at containing opponents’ drives. It’s evident that their off-ball movement and energy are really ramping up. The collective effort in making those extra plays — you can just see it in their hustle.
Lately, the team has been executing their defensive strategy with more consistency.
All of these elements, linked with their focus and synergy, have pushed the Lakers to seventh in defensive rating over the last 13 games as of Monday.
However, it’s worth noting that they’ve also benefited from some favorable luck when it comes to their opponents’ 3-point shooting — particularly given that many teams aren’t hitting from beyond the arc as effectively now as they did earlier this season.
In the initial 58 games, teams faced by the Lakers averaged a 3-point shooting success rate of 36.6%, landing them in a tie for the seventh-highest in the league at that time.
Yet, in recent weeks, opponents have struggled significantly, hitting only 30.3% of their 3-point attempts against the Lakers, which is, notably, the lowest in the league during that span. Interestingly, the average points scored by teams against the Lakers dropped from 40.2 to 31.8.
Aside from improvements in transition defense, this shift has been one of the most significant changes for the Lakers recently. Still, they remain one of the less effective teams when it comes to protecting the basket.
Coach JJ Reddick reflected on this before Saturday’s win against the Magic, stating, “I know our team has been outplayed for much of the season. I don’t think anything catastrophic has happened recently. Our contests are better, though we were poor in Miami. But we are getting better at controlling our impulses.”
He also added, “As someone who plays on the ball, I understand this. When you have trust in your teammates, it helps in guarding the ball effectively. It’s an ongoing process for everyone.”
Delving deeper, the frequency of 3-point shots taken by opponents being Classed as “open” or “wide open” has drastically decreased from 37.4% to 31.4% over these past few games.
Yes, in a sense, the Lakers are creating their own opportunities by more effectively contesting those shots.
Moreover, plays generating multiple efforts tend to disrupt the momentum of the opposing teams.
There’s been a noticeable uptick in their defensive prowess since mid-January, with their rating actually being above average since January 18th. But, well, there’s been a touch of luck involved as well, which is nothing to be ashamed of but is certainly worth mentioning.
Player of the Week
Lakers star Luka Doncic earned the title of Western Conference Player of the Week for the second week in a row on Monday.
In their four wins last week, Doncic averaged an impressive 42.3 points with 50% shooting overall and 39% from beyond the arc, along with 6.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and three steals, making him a strong candidate for MVP this season.
This marks the fourth time Doncic has been named Player of the Week, the most for any player this season.
Status Update
Starting guard Marcus Smart (sore right ankle) and reserve forward Rui Hachimura (sore right calf) will be unavailable for the game against the Pistons due to injury. Reserve big man Maxi Kleber (lumbar contusion) is set to return for the first time since March 8th.
