On February 1st, amidst the buzz of the Los Angeles Lakers` trade for Luka Doncic, an important on-court development was somewhat overlooked. That night, the Lakers, even without Anthony Davis, their defensive anchor, showcased a robust defense to defeat the Knicks 128-112 at Madison Square Garden. Looking at the game stats, it was clear how they achieved this: Knicks` key players Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns struggled offensively, while role players like Josh Hart stepped up.
Subsequent games reinforced this defensive improvement. A 122-97 victory against the Clippers saw James Harden and Kawhi Leonard contained to low scoring outputs. Then, against the Warriors, despite Stephen Curry`s 37 points, his 3-point shooting was uncharacteristically poor.
Over the following month, as the Lakers surged in the Western Conference standings with a 13-2 record, rival coaches and scouts began dissecting their defensive approach from that Knicks game. The Lakers had transformed from a team with the 20th-ranked defense in the initial months of the season to the league`s best.
How could a team, missing its top defender, restrict Brunson, Towns, Harden, Leonard, and Curry? Were these simply off nights for these stars, or had the Lakers devised a novel defensive strategy, despite their smaller lineups, to neutralize elite NBA players?
Analyst Kendrick Perkins suggested the Lakers were allowing 3-pointers, daring teams to rely on them. Others highlighted the contributions of Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent. One scout simply stated, “They`re just playing really hard.”
While these observations weren`t entirely wrong, they didn`t fully explain the Lakers` defensive transformation, especially without their key defensive personnel. The crucial question remained: could this defensive approach hold up when championships are at stake?
Around this time, former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski contacted Lakers` rookie head coach JJ Redick, a former player of his, to check in. Krzyzewski, a keen NBA observer, had been particularly impressed by the Lakers this season.
“I reached out and joked, `Who would have thought you could teach defense?`” Krzyzewski recalled.
Redick, a college player of the year, initially struggled defensively in the NBA. However, he improved sufficiently to become a valuable player for teams like the Clippers, 76ers, and Pelicans.
Krzyzewski noted, “What they`re doing looks straightforward, but it involves significant preparation. They are forcing opponents into taking shots from their less efficient shooters.”
The concept might seem simple: limit scoring opportunities for top players and encourage shots from less proficient ones. However, the Lakers` defensive scheme is more intricate. It originated from Redick and his staff`s offseason analysis of how NBA defenses are officiated against modern, space-oriented offenses.
Even with an exceptional defender like Davis, slowing down modern NBA superstars in pick-and-roll situations is challenging due to the emphasis on 3-point shooting.
Many teams prioritize acquiring perimeter defenders to pressure stars before they reach the paint. However, current hand-checking foul rules make this increasingly difficult.
The Lakers also faced a challenge with D`Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves, their starting guards, being less strong defensively. Consequently, they developed a defensive system to address this weakness and reduce the defensive burden on Davis.
The strategy involved creating the illusion of a crowded court for ball handlers, rather than solely relying on Davis as the last line of defense.
This approach showed promise in the first half of the season. However, the Lakers` defense solidified after acquiring Finney-Smith in late December and integrating him into the rotation.
Elite players will always find scoring opportunities. The Lakers utilize analytics to identify the least efficient shots for each star player and aim to force them into taking those shots, rather than their preferred ones.
The Lakers are effective at limiting shots in the paint, with only about 39.9% of opponent shots coming from inside, ranking third-lowest in the NBA. Conversely, they allow a high volume of 3-pointers, with approximately 49% of shots against them being from beyond the arc, the second-highest in the league.
In the Knicks game, the Lakers aggressively pressured Brunson and Towns, forcing them to pass to less potent offensive players. Brunson and Towns faced double teams more frequently in this game than usual. In contrast, players like Hart and McBride were given more space.
Defenders guarding less dangerous players would aggressively help on more threatening players, often leaving their assigned player open. This was evident when Vincent left McBride to block a passing lane to Brunson, who was already being defended by Max Christie.
This is a deliberate tactic. The Lakers employ double-teams inside the arc at the second-highest frequency in the league, second only to the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the Knicks game, McBride, left open at the 3-point line, missed an airball.
The loose ball was secured by James, who Redick describes as the “quarterback” of their defense.
Redick positions James as the central decision-maker, relying on his high basketball IQ to direct defensive coverages and adjustments. “Quarterback is an offensive term, but he`s our defensive quarterback,” Redick explained. “His voice and basketball intelligence are key.”
Observing the Lakers defensively, James is constantly directing teammates, indicating positioning and timing.
Redick highlighted a play where Reaves switched onto a larger player, “Within moments, LeBron was yelling at him, `Scram! Get Out, AR! Get out of here!` Plays like that synchronize our defense.”
The Lakers have struggled defensively when James is off the court. Their defense weakened when James sustained a groin injury in March. However, upon his return, their defensive cohesion improved. From late January to the end of the regular season, the Lakers ranked sixth in opponent 3-point shooting percentage and defended the eighth-most 3-point attempts.
Essentially, the Lakers conceded a lot of 3-point attempts, but opponents made them at a lower rate. Opponents shot approximately 36.8% on open 3-pointers against the Lakers during this period, the third-best rate allowed in the league.
This is because the Lakers are strategically forcing less efficient shooters to take these 3-pointers.
How do they achieve this? Through constant communication, sometimes to the point of vocal strain.
James leads this communication when playing, but Vanderbilt, Finney-Smith, and Vincent also assume this role. Additionally, assistant coach Greg St. Jean frequently directs defensive schemes from the sideline.
The result is a defense that outperforms expectations based on individual player reputations. Reaves commented on their often centerless lineups, “People might see us as small, but we have five guys out there who are 6-foot-7 and taller… and when we`re playing well, we`re all connected.”
At times, it may resemble a zone defense as the Lakers pack the paint and rotate to close passing lanes. However, it`s a hybrid approach blending modern analytics with a classic defensive philosophy of denying easy shots.
The aim is to play the percentages, disrupt opponent`s offensive plans, and force quality players into taking less desirable shots, while strategically allowing average shooters more opportunities.
This defensive style requires time and trust. When trust falters, the defense can break down. However, it represents the Lakers` best defensive strategy after roster changes.
In the upcoming first-round series against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers` defense will face a significant test.
