4 things to watch for during the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason
By Brad Magsam
2. Defense
The Los Angeles Lakers upgraded in arguably every way this offseason. However, the one area of concern is the defensive end. The Lakers will be without four of their key defenders from last season in JaVale McGee, Dwight Howard, Danny Green and Avery Bradley. The loss of these four players will undoubtedly be felt when the Lakers go up against some of the premier players in the league.
Danny Green and Avery Bradley were able to pick up the best players on opposing teams, allowing LeBron James to conserve his energy for when he needed it most. The pesky full-court defense that Bradley would perform was also key in wearing guys out and disrupting their offensive flow.
These key player absences will require the team to play more team defense. The team will rely on communication and effort to keep the purple and gold among the top defensive teams in the league.
The addition of Wesley Matthews and Marc Gasol will help bolster the team’s defense. Matthews should take the place of Danny Green as the team’s go-to perimeter defender. Although the veteran guard gives up some size, Wesley Matthews has incredible wingspan that should help contest shots.
Although this new-look Lakers squad should be a very good defensive team, it will look quite different from last season.