2. The Los Angeles Lakers are a bad defensive team
The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the best defensive teams in the league over the last two seasons. Frank Vogel had a tremendous impact on the team’s defense and the front office brought in players that would help the defensive effort.
While Vogel is still in place, the Los Angeles Lakers did lose some important defenders from the last two seasons. Both Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso are on new teams this season. They were the two best perimeter defenders the Lakers had.
The Lakers that played on Tuesday were a shell of their former defensive selves. While they did a good job of limiting Stephen Curry, the Warriors’ constant ball movement made the Lakers look like a junior varsity team on the defensive end.
It is safe to say that this Lakers team is much worse defensively than the past two years.
However, the Lakers do not have to be one of the best defensive teams in the league to win the NBA Championship and things should get better. Talen Horton-Tucker and Trevor Ariza are both hurt and when they return the defense should get a huge boost.
Add in the possibility of getting an in-season buyout signing and the Lakers can easily address the defensive side of the ball. They still won’t reach the ceiling of the last two years but they can get much better.
For now, though, it is safe to say that the Los Angeles Lakers are a bad defensive team.
Verdict: Not an overreaction (for now)