Los Angeles Lakers: 4 reasons why the Lakers are a bad team right now
Why the Los Angeles Lakers have struggled this season: Defense
When the Lakers won the title in 2019-20, their defense was one of the biggest reasons why. That squad ranked 4th in opposing PPG (107.6), 8th in opposing team FG% (44.8%) and 3rd in defensive rating (106.3). They were organized, disciplined, communicated well and had the talent to shut down opposing teams.
This season, they’ve been a joke.
After 15 games they have the 4th worst defense in the NBA, allowing 112.5 PPG. They also have the 12th worst opposing team FG% (45.3%) and the 12th worst opposing team 3P% (34.7%).
This is a product of what I’ve already mentioned; age and consistency. Older, less athletic players aren’t able to keep up with speedy youngsters, they get tired quicker and they can’t move their feet as fast on defense. They swapped decent defenders like Danny Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso for Carmelo Anthony, Kent Bazemoe and Wayne Ellington.
These moves were never going to bring much defensive prowess to LA, but it’s Anthony Davis who is really letting the Lakers down defensively. According to NBA defensive stats, AD is actually the 2nd worst defender in the NBA out of players who have played at least 10 games and defend at least 6 field-goal attempts per game. He’s allowing 65.4% of shots against him, for a player who is thought of as a top defender. Contrast this with only the 51.8% of shots he allowed in the 2019/20 season.
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Davis needs to realize that he is a major reason why the Lakers are bad right now, change his approach and be the defender we all know he can be. If Davis is effectively defending the rim, outside defenders can press up higher to shooters, knowing they have Davis backing them up.