The Los Angeles Lakers are an atrocious defensive team, and their 119-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day underscored why they are not a serious title contender. Houston had lost four of their last five coming in, but they are a threat to win the Western Conference. The Rockets scored 37 in the first quarter and never looked back. LA never got back into the game as Houston just kept scoring.
Austin Reaves suffered a second left calf injury after just two games back on the floor. It was a gut punch the franchise didn’t need. The Lakers have lost three straight and four of their last six. They have been without multiple rotation pieces in every game, but their defense is a problem.
The Lakers are not playing connected basketball, especially on D. They have allowed 735 points over their last six and only held the Clippers under 114 points. That is a nightmare stretch for a bad defensive team. Los Angeles can’t get stops and has no chance of competing with the NBA’s elite team as constructed.
Lakers’ defense isn’t good enough to compete with elite teams
LA sat 24th in defensive rating coming into Christmas Day, and it only got worse on the regular season’s biggest stage. The Rockets dominated the offensive glass and blew out the Lakers in Los Angeles.
The purple and gold had their starting five healthy coming into the contest, but that unit is struggling. The Lakers clearly need a 3-and-D wing to round out their rotation. Without it, they have no hope in the playoffs. Los Angeles will make the postseason because of the three stars leading their roster. Winning the playoffs will be impossible if the Lakers don’t improve their defense.
The hallmark of a serious title contender is being top ten in offensive and defensive rating. The Lakers are seventh on offense and are 4.5 points per 100 possessions worse than the tenth-ranked team on defense. They need to be more connected. LA isn’t loaded with defensive talent. They need to buy into a system that allows the roster to be more than the sum of their parts.
The Lakers had an elite stretch last season, but that hasn’t been the case to begin this year. Rob Pelinka and the front office must acquire an upgrade, but the Lakers must also play better as a team. There is no quick fix. It will take time and effort for LA to improve defensively.
The Los Angeles Lakers' defensive issues were on full display against the Houston Rockets. This is not a serious title contender. Head coach JJ Redick has been preaching about the defensive issues all season. An influx of a defensive-minded player would help, but it will take buy-in with it. This is the wakeup call. Now, it is on the Lakers roster and front office to answer it. Stay tuned to see if that happens.