Los Angeles Lakers: What to expect vs. Rockets without LeBron James

3. Better perimeter defense

The Los Angeles Lakers have been playing really poor perimeter defense in the Orlando bubble. If you look at the box score over the last two games you would be fooled into thinking the contrary, as both the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder shot terribly from beyond the arc.

The Lakers did not play good perimeter defense in those games and it was more of a case of the Jazz and Thunder simply missing shots. While LeBron James is not necessarily the reason why the Lakers have been lacking (although he has not been great), him being out opens the door for the Lakers to make some adjustments.

The opponent also allows the Lakers to get creative as well. The Lakers can run a small lineup against the Rockets and I do not hate the idea of there being four guards out there at a time. Of course, this relies on Alex Caruso being healthy, but the Lakers could run some lineups that have four guards and defend the perimeter more efficiently.

I would love to see a Dion Waiters, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso, Danny Green and Anthony Davis lineup out there. If there is ever a team you can do that against it is the Rockets.

And with the first seed already clinched, why not experiment and try things like this? Especially when the Lakers might see the Rockets in the playoffs.

The Lakers desperately need better perimeter defense against the Rockets because they are not going to miss at as high of a clip as the Jazz and Thunder did. If the Lakers lack energy and give up as many open looks as they have the last four games then this could be a major blowout.

Or, it could be a turning the corner moment for the defense. Let’s look at it in a positive light.