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2 positives from the Los Angeles Lakers blowout loss vs Phoenix

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: Carmelo Anthony #7 and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of a preseason basketball game against Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: Carmelo Anthony #7 and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of a preseason basketball game against Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

The first positive – the Los Angeles Lakers could not have played any worse against Phoenix

The Lakers should not have been so lackadaisical in the preseason. Wins do not count for anything in the preseason, but striving for them builds up good habits. The stars not getting hurt was important, but these stars are all out of rhythm defensively.

Let me be clear: it is the defense that comes last when building team chemistry. The Lakers can get by on offense on talent alone. The defense is a different story altogether.

Playing NBA-level defense requires countless repetitions in practice and in games. Frank Vogel’s defensive scheme is not too complicated – it is the same as it has always been dating back to his time coaching the Indiana Pacers.

Judging by their games against the Warriors and Suns, the Lakers are not even close to regular-season form defensively.

This is unacceptable. The Lakers have no excuse for their poor defense. The Suns’ offense is extremely predictable. They run the same 2-3 plays but execute those plays incredibly well.

The Lakers should know by now Mikal Bridges is known for his backdoor cuts. In no universe is it acceptable for LeBron James to stare into space while guarding Bridges.

LeBron is notorious for not always paying attention on baseline cutters. I am shocked LeBron was guarding Bridges and not Jae Crowder. LeBron and Crowder clearly dislike each other. Vogel should use that energy LeBron has against Crowder to fuel his help defense.

Furthermore, Vogel made a huge mistake by not playing the LeBron/AD/Westbrook trio in every single preseason game together. That trio needed to build up their chemistry in the preseason. He should have realized by now that AD has to play center for this experiment to work.

But what was especially startling was the lack of effort. All the coaching adjustments in the world cannot make up for a lack of heart. No strategy will work if the Lakers are not even trying to play defense or share the ball on offense.

If this embarrassment motivates them to play harder, then so be it.

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