Bottom line: The Los Angeles Lakers perimeter defense was atrocious
There was a whole lot of talk about the improved defense of the Lakers. Now there is improvement, it’s just on the Lakers back line. They will do just fine this season. No problems there. Let’s just talk about the perimeter for a second. It needs work.
The reason why the Lakers lost this game was the abysmal perimeter defense of the backcourt. The Nets rang up 20 3-point shots and most of them were poorly contested.
Or if at all.
More often or not, Green, Bradley, Rondo and especially Caldwell Pope either botched switching assignments or were soft getting through screens. Time after time, it allowed Brooklyn open opportunities that they cashed in on.
https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1182306541761781761
When the perimeter defensive players weren’t giving up shots from long distance like AT&T, they were exposing the centers getting them into foul trouble. Howard had five fouls in the game and McGee had four. It bears mentioning that poor defense on the perimeter brought out frustrations from McGee that was voiced in the media. With poor performances like these, JaVale might want to start warming up those pipes.