Anyone following the Los Angeles Lakers would have a tough time escaping the conversations about just how poor the defense has been. Those talking points are as unavoidable as they are a very real concern. There is one particular area that is being largely ignored as a major part of the problem.
The critics have come after Luka Doncic and his perceived slights on the defensive end. They have attacked the perimeter defenders as a whole for the Lakers. Even JJ Redick has received some heat from those frustrated with the team. What about the rim protectors on the team?
The Athletic's NBA Daily podcast pointed out a crucial stat during a recent episode that highlighted just how bad the situation has been on the interior for the Lakers. The poor defensive statistics have all started with the lackluster effort guarding opposing teams in the paint.
"The rim protection has been virtually non-existent over that span [since Dec. 1]," Alex Speers said. "Lakers opponents [are] shooting 72 percent at the rim. Only team that's worse during that span was [the] Utah [Jazz]. That is not good."
Lakers' desperate need for a rim protector is painfully obvious
The start of December was identified as a clear turning point for the Lakers according to Speers. It sent them crashing back down to earth after a strong start to the year. That is definitely true for the defense.
This should not be a groundbreaking thought, but that is not the type of company anyone wants to keep in the NBA right now. That weak defense has led to a sub-500 record for the Lakers during that stretch. Los Angeles is 12-13 since the start of December.
All of this can capture quite adequately why many continue to be lukewarm on the idea of the Lakers truly contending for a title this season. Los Angeles is still holding tight at the fifth seed, but the drop into the Play-In is closer than most want to admit. They need sustained winning to avoid that.
Marcus Smart: "We gotta figure it out. Nobody's gonna come save us and we don't need anybody to come save us. We got enough what we got here" pic.twitter.com/rQNkJ7B7rG
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) January 16, 2026
Marcus Smart said a while back that no one external was coming to 'save' the Lakers. Their interior defense should quietly be hoping that is not the case.
Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes have been sufficient placeholders in many ways. This is just not one of them.
If the Lakers are still treating this as a gap year in retooling around Doncic, this is a problem unlikely to be solved before Feb. 5. However, if Los Angeles is serious about competing in 2026, the effort must be made by Rob Pelinka to get opposing front office execs on the phone before the deadline arrives.