The best defensive moments from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019-20
As far as the 2019-20 NBA season is concerned, it’s been an up-and-down campaign for the players and fans alike. There has been plenty of good, some bad, and, unfortunately, even some sad. Especially for a team like the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, a bit of a silver lining from the hiatus is the fact that even if the NBA season resumes, the players will both be, for the most part, fresh and healthy, and we could see the best playoffs in recent history.
Sticking to the Lakers’ theme, let’s take a look back at some of their best defensive plays from the 2019-20 regular season.
Top 5 Los Angeles Lakers defensive moments
Honorable mention: The block party in January
Dwight Howard had five blocks, JaVale McGee had six, Anthony Davis added eight, and Avery Bradley had one for good measure. What a great defensive outing from the Lakers, who finished with 20 blocks on the night, against the Detroit Pistons in January.
5. KCP’s steal against Luka
In a January game against the Dallas Mavericks, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had some eye-popping players. However, one particular play involved him sprinting out of nowhere to steal and then finish on the other end on a pass from Doncic.
The Lakers would go on to beat the Mavericks in overtime.
4. Green swipes Harden
In a battle between two of the best teams in the Western Conference, with one of the better perimeter defenders in the game going up against arguably the best offensive player of the game, Danny Green gets the upper hand on this play.
Green swipes the ball from Harden and it leads to a breakaway on the other end.
3. Kuzma’s defensive explosion
3. In a December game in Utah against the Jazz, it was a blowout win for the Lakers 121-96. In this one, Kyle Kuzma may have only scored 13 points offensively. Defensively, he was a beast too. He came up with four steals and three blocks, including a vicious block on Emmanuel Mudiay.
While going for a dunk at the tail end of the game, Kuzma leaps up and stuffs the would-be dunk. Wow.
2. LeBron chases down Shamet
This one takes place during opening week where LeBron scores a chase-down block on Landry Shamet of the Clippers. LeBron shows his pure athleticism and that he’s still very much a defensive force at age 35.
A healthy LeBron sends a message to his cross-town rivals.
1. Caruso blocks Lonzo
In my mind, this could very well be the block of the year. Alex Caruso on Lonzo Ball of the New Orleans Pelicans. This was one of the most sensational defensive plays you will ever see from a guard.
Caruso leaps over Lonzo and stuffs him at the rim with his left arm/hand. The block is strong that it knocks Ball over, adding injury to insult.
The Los Angeles Lakers are back.