Los Angeles Lakers: 5 takeaways from four-game road trip

3. 3-point defense disappears

A lot of the Los Angeles Lakers’ success this season has come courtesy of the defensive side of the ball. However, this road trip, it was their defense that let them down and put them in such a difficult position.

The Lakers’ defense at the 3-point line was downright unacceptable on this road trip. Some of that can be attributed to Avery Bradley being replaced by an inferior defender in Rajon Rondo, but guards are not the only players shooting 3-pointers anymore. This is a team-wide issue.

The Oklahoma City Thunder had the worst 3-point shooting game of any opponent on the trip, and they knocked down 35.5 percent of their attempts from distance. Danilo Gallinari, Chris Paul, Terrance Ferguson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all made multiple 3-pointers.

The Memphis Grizzlies shot a blistering 46.7 percent from distance. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jae Crowder made four 3-pointers apiece, while Dillon Brooks made three of his own. The San Antonio Spurs shot 40 percent, with most of the damage coming from backcourt players. The New Orleans Pelicans made 42.5 percent of their attempts, as Brandon Ingram Josh Hart, Kenrich Williams, Jrue Holiday and J.J. Redick all had multiple makes.

All in all, the Lakers allowed their opponents to shoot 52-of-126, which equals out to 41.2 percent. If they are going to allow teams to shoot that well from the 3-point line, they are going to start losing games in bunches.