Lakers’ Defensive Turnaround Energizes Season
After a rough start to the NBA season on defense, the Lakers have shown signs of improvement recently, fostering a sense of confidence about sustaining that momentum moving forward.
Initially, the Lakers’ roster didn’t suggest they’d have a standout defensive team. Yet, their beginning was even worse than predictions had indicated.
In the first half of the season, the Lakers ranked 26th in defensive rating, allowing 117.9 points per 100 possessions. Not exactly a promising figure if they aim to contend for an NBA championship.
Despite some defensive rebounds falling their way, fewer fouls, and managing to force turnovers decently, the Lakers struggled in key areas. They found it tough to protect the rim and were allowing too many three-point shots. Transition defense? Quite problematic, resulting in goals conceded in the worst ways imaginable.
Nonetheless, things began to shift as the team integrated zone defense into their strategy. This approach helped them elevate their game, achieving a better-than-average defensive rating of 112.7—ranking them 13th—in the 14 games leading up to the All-Star break.
For a team primarily known for offensive prowess, this uptick in defensive performance feels encouraging, perhaps even necessary.
“It just gives us a different perspective,” Austin Reaves noted regarding the zone defense. “It’s like a chance to mix it up and get more aggressive on defense.”
In a pregame feature during the home game against the Mavericks on February 12, insights were shared about the Lakers’ increasing reliance on zone defense, revealing they utilized it on 17.6% of their possessions—far exceeding the Bucks’ leading 10% at that point.
This strategy appeared effective, as the Lakers restricted opponents to just 0.86 points per possession when in zone. Although teams still shot reasonably well near the basket, the Lakers did show marked improvement against three-point attempts.
Coach JJ Reddick expressed the importance of structured defensive setups. “We spent a lot of time with our analytics group… It’s clear we aren’t significantly underperforming in the midrange or from three. Some of those struggles might stem from us disrupting the pace of play,” he mentioned, emphasizing adaptability.
Reddick reiterated that their defensive success will require varied tactics. “We’ll need to make plays at the point and adapt strategies on the fly is crucial,” he elaborated. “It’s not just one approach with this team; flexibility is key.”
The conversation around effective strategies in an 82-game season, particularly using zone defense, is ongoing league-wide, but the Lakers believe this method has potential for postseason games.
“This is how we communicate in the zone,” Reeves added. “We get five guys synced up, talking things out. Sure, mistakes will happen; nobody’s perfect. But the communication and effort are strong for the most part.”
