Defensive Turnaround Fuels Lakers’ Playoff Success
HOUSTON — Austin Reeves can’t quite recall the exact moment it all clicked. However, he reflects on the pivotal changes that sparked the Lakers’ defensive improvement—a shift that has lasted over three months, culminating in their first-round playoff victory over the Rockets, finalized with a 98-78 win in Game 6 at the Toyota Center on Friday.
It’s interesting to note that about midway through the season, the Lakers were sitting at 26th in defensive rating, which, to be honest, was pretty disheartening. Back then, their performance was even below expectations set by many critics, making defense their weak point.
At that time, only a handful of teams—like the Kings and the Pelicans—were faring worse defensively than the Lakers. It was clear: something had to change. They found their answer in a 110-93 victory over the Raptors on January 18, where they began employing zone defense more frequently than before.
The results came swiftly; the Lakers transformed into an above-average defensive team (ranked 13th) in 14 games leading into the All-Star break and wrapped up the final 42 games at 12th in defensive rating.
Reeves mentioned how that period of improvement involved more communication and collaboration among teammates. “We had more voices, more conversations. It’s like a turning point for us,” he said. “It helped us realize we could adapt our defensive strategies.” Even though they didn’t lean heavily on zone defense against the Rockets, the effort to solidify communication and responsibility was evident.
Marcus Smart noted how transitioning to zone defense pushed everyone to engage and even brought out voices from players who may not typically be communicative. This change catalyzed a mentality shift where players were more aware of their roles and positionings, striving to shed the underdog label.
The Lakers’ collective effort led to their first playoff series win since 2023. Smart and LeBron James wasted no time making an impact. “Openness is crucial in the NBA,” said Coach JJ Redick. “When you have players like LeBron and Smart, who are accustomed to high defensive standards, they buy into the strategy. Once they do that, it becomes easier to execute the game plan because everyone holds each other accountable.”
On the defensive end, Deandre Ayton really stood out, taking on the challenge against Rockets’ All-Star center Alperen Sengun. Ayton showcased strong one-on-one defense, effectively disrupting plays and securing rebounds. According to league matchup data, Sengun managed only 32 points on 15-of-37 shooting, with just one shooting foul called when Ayton was his closest defender.
Even when Ayton wasn’t snatching the boards himself, the team’s performance in defensive rebounding improved significantly with him on the court. He averaged 7.3 defensive rebounds per game, even escalating to 9.3 in the last three games against the Rockets, who were known for their offensive rebounding prowess.
“You have to meet their physicality to impact your teammates positively,” Ayton commented. “Playing at my best helps us as a group. It’s all about keeping up the pressure until you start breaking them down.”
The Lakers’ journey has been quite a turnaround from what many expected. With Luka Doncic and Reeves sidelined for the concluding games of the series, they not only made the playoffs—they showed they could contend, flipping the script.
Smart summed it up well: “It’s everything. It displays our resilience and the trust we have in our teammates and coaching staff to put us where we need to be. No matter the challenges, we’ll keep competing and supporting each other.”
