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NBA Finals 2016: 5 Things Lakers Should Watch

By Cody Williams

Mar 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) during the NBA game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) during the NBA game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 8, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) defends Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) during the second half in game four of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Cavaliers won 100-99. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) defends Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) during the second half in game four of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Cavaliers won 100-99. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

4. How to Defend With Sub-Par Defenders

Even the Lakers fans or people within the organization that are the highest on D’Angelo Russell out of his rookie season can’t deny the fact that the point guard was absolutely abysmal on the defensive end of the floor for much of the year. The same can be said of Jordan Clarkson on that end as well. Part of that is the youth of those two young guards, but you also have to consider that they just might not be great defensive players in the NBA.

Related Story: Best and Worst-Case Scenarios for D'Angelo Russell

What’s interesting about the NBA Finals, though, is the fact that at least the Cavaliers are operating with a similar problem. Kyrie Irving has been notoriously crappy on the defensive end of the floor for much of his career. While he’s a great athlete with solid length, his defensive has just always been lackluster. Even still, the Cavs have been able to turn it up defensively when necessary in these playoffs.

Sure, having LeBron James to make up for mistakes helps make a team defense great when there are defensively deficient players heavily involved in the lineup, but there are also schematics involved in making that happen. Subsequently, the Lakers would be wise to see what the Cavs and Tyronn Lue do to help their defense succeed—especially against an offense as potent as Golden State’s—even with a player like Kyrie to compensate for.

Next: No. 3 Reserve Big Men

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