Los Angeles Lakers: 3 advantages LA has over the Brooklyn Nets

3. The Los Angeles Lakers are a much better defensive team

The Brooklyn Nets have the better offense, there is no point in debating that. While I like how the superstars complement each other better in LA, the Nets have three of the best scorers in the league who will take turns getting buckets.

Luckily, the Los Angeles Lakers are a team with a great defensive identity and even though they lost some key defensive pieces, such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso, this is still a team that can thrive defensively.

Yes, there are some role players such as Malik Monk and Carmelo Anthony who are not the best defensively. But when the game really matters and the Lakers have to throw out their best defenders they can assemble a crunch time lineup that can at least slow Brooklyn down.

A crunchtime lineup of Russell Westbrook, Wayne Ellington, LeBron James, Trevor Ariza and Anthony Davis could work. Ellington is not a great defender but he offers floor spacing and you can stick him on Joe Harris.

Westbrook is very athletic and that makes him a good defender by default, he just has to make better decisions in the things he does defensively. If Frank Vogel coaches him up, and really utilizes his defense, we could see a completely different Westbrook that absolutely could defend Kyrie Irving.

LeBron James is still a great defensive player when he really puts in the effort and he is obviously going to do that in the playoffs. Don’t let his lack of regular-season effort fool you. Look back at the 2020 title run and look how he played defense. He can guard James Harden.

Anthony Davis matches up well with Kevin Durant and Trevor Ariza provides length to either stick on LaMarcus Aldridge or be a closeout defender while Davis rotates to get the board.

The Lakers have the defensive ability, and size, to go toe-to-toe with the Nets while also being an offensive threat themselves. Not many teams can say that.