The All-Defensive First and Second Teams came out on Wednesday and the Los Angeles Lakers were one of only six teams who didn’t receive any votes for either team
The Lakers were once a team with a perennial All-Defensive First or Second team player. Most notably headlined by Kobe Bryant who won seven consecutive appearances from 2005 to 2012, the team also bolstered the likes of interior defender Shaquille O’Neal and perimeter stopper, Derek Fisher.
However, those days are long gone as the Los Angeles Lakers posted the absolute worst defensive efficiency rating of 109.3 points per 100 possessions last season. Yes, worse than even the Philadelphia 76ers who posted an almost equally horrid 106.7 defensive efficiency rating.
Headlined by the likes of San Antonio Spurs’ superstar, Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers’ imposing big man, DeAndre Jordan, and Golden State Warriors’ struggling forward, Draymond Green, we knew the Lakers were bad, but to find out that they were one of only six teams not to receive an All-Defensive Team vote only served to pour salt in the wounds.
Victor Oladipo received one first-team vote in the NBA All-Defensive Team voting. Here are the results: pic.twitter.com/Qan3J57zj3
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) May 25, 2016
Alongside the likes of the Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trailblazers and the aforementioned Philadelphia 76ers, defense should definitely be a priority for the front office and the coaching staff alike this coming offseason.
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Luke Walton is expected to bring the Golden State motion heavy offense to Los Angeles, but what should be cause for concern is how he will coach defensive, seeing as to how badly the Warriors are struggling this series.
Looking over the results of the All-Defensive Team voting, two interesting things stood out immediately: first, despite all of his talk about being a great defensive player and padding his stats with blocks, Miami Heat center, Hassan Whiteside wasn’t even on the First Team and second, whoever gave Dwyane Wade a vote should have their vote taken away next year.
Though I didn’t necessarily watch many Boston Celtics’ games this year until the Playoffs, it was also a surprise to see Avery Bradley get a First Team nod. Further, seeing how the Western Conference bolsters four of the top five defenders in the league (according to the votes), doesn’t bode well for the East’s argument that their conference is superior to the West’s.
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Hopefully this offseason the Lakers buck the trend and finally find some players who play both sides of the ball, as offense may win games, but it’s defense that wins championships.