Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Ways they are proving to be championship contenders

Lockdown Defense

Throughout the last few seasons, folks in LA have gotten used to hearing particular catchphrases during Lakers games. Game after game our ears were tortured with these type of terms as the Purple and Gold gave up easy baskets:

• “That was another rookie mistake on defense.”
• “Miscommunication by the Lakers led to an easy basket.”
• “He just didn’t give any effort on defense.”
• “The Lakers didn’t get back in transition.”
• “He was chirping at the ref instead of getting back on D.”

This year’s different. The Lakers rotation is stocked full of veteran players who know the ins and outs of playing defense at a high level.

Additionally, LA’s two best players –LeBron James and Anthony Davis– have brought an increased level of intensity to the less glamorous side of the ball. The fantastic duo’s passion for D has trickled down to the rest of the squad, creating the type of defensive atmosphere we haven’t seen in Hollywood for close to a decade.

The Lakers are guaranteed to be a top-10 defensive team in the NBA, but what separates the Purple and Gold from nearly every other team in the league is LA’s ability to step up their defensive intensity and execution during crucial stretches of a game. The Lakers are one of only a handful of teams that can genuinely lock down an opponent, making it nearly impossible for the other side to score.

• During the Lakers opening game against the Clippers, they held LA’s other team to only 22 first-quarter points.
• During the Lakers second game of the season, LA gave up 18 points to the Jazz in the third quarter, blowing open a close game.
• During LA’s third contest of the year, the Lakers stifled the Hornets throughout the third quarter, only allowing 18 points.

The Warriors stomped through the league for half a decade, picking up three chips along the way. Most casual observers focused on Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant’s offensive prowess, but Golden State’s defense is what won them championships. Over the last few years, the Warriors allowed many teams to hang around them during the first half of action. But in the second half, Golden State would clamp down on defense, smothering their opponent into submission, and eventually winning by double digits.

Last year as the Raptors marched toward their first championship, Kawhi Leonard’s fantastic two-way play got most of the attention. However, Toronto could lock up opposing squads for an extended stretch. Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, Kyle Lowry, and Serge Ibaka had the capability of shutting down teams and turning a close game into a blowout within minutes.

The grouping of Alex Caruso, Danny Green, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, in conjunction with either Avery Bradley or Dwight Howard, is one of the best defensive units in the NBA. They are similar to past versions of the Warriors and Raptors because they are also capable of suffocating opponents, turning a tight game into a blowout.

The Lakers ability to clamp down on defense for protracted stretches is a sign that LA is a championship contender.