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Los Angeles Lakers: 5 positive takeaways from first quarter of season

By Kenneth Teape

SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 22: The Los Angeles Lakers stand with locked arms during the National Anthem prior to the start of their NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on November 22, 2017 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 22: The Los Angeles Lakers stand with locked arms during the National Anthem prior to the start of their NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on November 22, 2017 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers: 5 positive takeaways from first quarter of season
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 29: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors and Brook Lopez #11 and Larry Nance Jr. #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers go for a loose ball during the game on November 29, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Defense

Last season the defense was embarrassing for the Lakers. The Lakers were the easiest team to score on, as they allowed the highest opponent field goal percentage in the league. They couldn’t stop a cold last season. This season, they have done a total 180.

The defensive turnaround is easily the biggest positive takeaway from the first 21 games of the season for the Lakers. Last season the Lakers ranked last in the NBA in defensive rating with a 113. This season, the Lakers are seventh with a defensive rating of 104.2.

That is a huge turnaround, and personnel is a big reason for it. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brook Lopez are both major upgrades defensively at shooting guard and center in the starting lineup. Larry Nance Jr. is also a strong defender, while Lonzo Ball has exceeded expectations on that end of the court as well. Ingram, Randle and Clarkson are all giving effort on that end of the court as well, which is all you can ask for.

The Lakers are far from perfect defensively; they have had some poor performances, but that will happen over the course of an 82-game season. Luke Walton has to be happy with where the defense is overall, as the team has made a major turnaround on that end of the court.

Next: 50 Greatest Players In Lakers Franchise History

Who would have ever thought that it would be the offense that is holding the Lakers back in the early going of the 2017-18 season?

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