Analytics say the Los Angeles Lakers’ defense is good. Lake Show Life says it is not!
This is pretty much a moot point because when a team is scoring less than what they give up on defense, more often than not, basketball teams tend to lose. But the Lakers are the number one seed going into the playoffs, so let’s continue.
Lake Show life has been consistent in pointing the awful defense on the perimeter. Since Avery Bradley is not a part of the playoff run and Alex Caruso did not play, the Rockets treated the 3 point line like it was a shoot around. But try to pay attention to the defenders and help rotation.
Or lack thereof!
https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1291588881880580096
There is 3 minutes of poor perimeter defense by the Los Angeles Lakers. Out of the 21 shots from distance, how many were closely contested? The execution to rotate to help teammates?
When the defense was stretched thanks to the Rockets exposing the Lakers with the long ball, it opened up the pick and roll offense which Houston ran with ease.
- Kyle Kuzma died on this pick set by Jeff Green.
- This allows a passing lane for Harden to execute the pocket pass for a possible easy lay-up.
- Markieff Morris is in no man’s land and has to deal with the same decision that Davis had to make earlier.
- Stop the ball or stay with Tucker in the left corner for the 3 point shot.
- That moment of indecision allows Green to score.
There weren’t many positives in this one, but there were two players that shined bright on a gloomy night.