Lakers Defense

lakurluv · Star Player Joined: 17 May 2010 Posts: 2529

No matter who starts or what the rotation is, if the Lakers don't learn to play defense they will not be relevant this season.
Every single day basketball players from all over are working on their craft to get better. It's one thing to be a natural scorer where you don't have to work as hard to shoot the ball, but it can be attained through hard work.
Every kid wants to be a Steph Curry and they are out there on the basketball courts working extremely hard at getting it done.
Shooting the basketball is half of this game the other half is Defense. Very seldom do you see this art being practiced, because the first characteristic of playing lock down defense, is the ability to WANT TO!
If Luke has been stressing defense, he might want to STRESS it some more. I didn't see the game but I saw the Highlights and Clarkson was getting abused by Thompson and we made no adjustment.

IMO in order for the Lakers to be relevant this season, they need to focus on this end of the floor. We have some potentially good defenders, but that's not their focus and Luke needs to make it their focus.

If you saw the game you were able to see the fluidity of the Warriors within their offense and that's mainly because they've been playing it for some time now and sliding a player of KD's caliber into the mix isn't all that difficult. Defensively they are discipline, but they aren't lock down.

So let's just remember...
#1 We're not, nor will be the GS Warriors...
#2 We can score the ball enough as to where it shouldn't be a concern or primary focus. Outscoring your opponent was a Dantoni trait and it didn't work well here in LA.
#3 We need to focus on DEFENSE in this league and being one of the top defensive teams in order to be relevant, if not it will be another Lottery type season...

blackmamba08 · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2016 6:34 am Post subject:

Definitely....They are speaking about defense almost through every interview but the effort is just not there. OK they dont know who to play defense yet but effort can still be there. Put this game on side vs GSW, but I didnt see any good defense in any of these other PS games. I hope it will change when regular starts. Otherwise another top pick is coming and I dont want any kind of that crap any more. Its enough of picks we need to start playing basketball for real.

999 · Franchise Player Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 20266

Looks like ESPN will nail it with their prediction

lakerboy · Star Player Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 2524

we got better then last season, but make no mistake.. that's still a really really bad defensive team

watchME · Star Player Joined: 06 May 2011 Posts: 3384

If we were interested in playing defense and competing our line ups would be

PG.D'lo
SG.Ingram
SF.Deng
PF.Nance
C.Mozgov

A team with young and randle will never be able to defend...

PICKnPOP · Star Player Joined: 14 Jul 2014 Posts: 5377

We need that defensive anchor, or more appropriately a defensive leader. Someone who is going to bring energy, consistency and make plays on that end to help keep everyone else engaged. Also needs to have the balls to call people out and keep everyone accountable.

Deng is a good vet and defensive player but Noah was that guy in Chicago. Mosgov is solid but not a leader.

Larry nance could be that guy but it's obvious that the lakers are all in on Randle so that's out of the question. However I would throw this lineup out:

Russel
swaggy -he's been solid so why not. Give him bench minutes but let him start both halfs
Deng

Nance - make the defense his responsibility. See if he can Flourish in a bigger role. Idk why he's being relagated to a bench role.

mosgov

Bring in a super bench if

Clarkson
Lou
Ingram
Randle
Black/YI

PICKnPOP · Star Player Joined: 14 Jul 2014 Posts: 5377

pio2u · Retired Number Joined: 26 Dec 2012 Posts: 54570

With MWP's skills diminished there is no lock down defender on the team.

There's a ton of work, growth and development needed. We may even have to make a few trades to get more/better defense.

justsomelakerfan · Franchise Player Joined: 16 Jul 2016 Posts: 10939

Roon · Star Player Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 1816

Halflife · Franchise Player Joined: 15 Aug 2015 Posts: 16703

Their defense will be top 5 best

2019 · Franchise Player Joined: 03 Dec 2014 Posts: 10802

Dave20 · Franchise Player Joined: 15 Jun 2013 Posts: 11333

The Warriors will do this to every team. I think we're better than last year.

watchME · Star Player Joined: 06 May 2011 Posts: 3384

Annihilator · Star Player Joined: 02 Jul 2001 Posts: 4035

Scoffs · Starting Rotation Joined: 12 Aug 2001 Posts: 874

I think the biggest problem is with the line-up. I really wanted to see how Ingram did against Thompson. You can put Nance or Randle on KD and let JC guard Curry.

It might be a good idea to switch line-ups depending on what the opponent is.

venturalakersfan · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2016 11:23 am Post subject:

In other news Rome was built in a day. Seriously, the 3 point defense is horrible. Guys like Lilliard and Thompson were allowed to find their spot and launch shot after shot. They need to make them move, not let them get comfortable. They will improve, but as to my first comment, don't expect it in the next game.
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bonkers · Star Player Joined: 25 Apr 2013 Posts: 6071

Trust the process

Halflife · Franchise Player Joined: 15 Aug 2015 Posts: 16703

When you look at the aesthetics of our players we are built to be elite defensively. Only thing missing is scheme commitment. By xmas we will be locked in and by years end will have elite numbers

Ziggy · Franchise Player Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 12712

fansincemagic · Franchise Player Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 11051

They brought in Deng and Mozgov for leadership, but mainly on the defensive side. The young guys will make mistakes, but the changes will come by how they react on the next play after letting them down.

MJST · Retired Number Joined: 06 Jul 2014 Posts: 26309

Our defense has been relatively good over the first part of the pre-season, some games it was also bad.

But everyone piggybacking on getting wrecked by Golden State to make their threads now I guess.

Defensively we're better and have a much broader understanding of what we're supposed to be doing on that end but we are still mastering the basics after a year of learning nothing.

It's gonna take some time, but at least have the decency to acknowledge progress rather than act like there's been none, when if you watched the first 4 games of the pre-season it's obvious there has been.

Omar Little · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2016 11:49 am Post subject:

Last I checked, we were 18th in defense (and 13th in offense) so far in preseason. If we can get to that level for the season we will smash the wins predictions.
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“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel

Ziggy · Franchise Player Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 12712

Yeah we can't let that GS game allow us to lose perspective. They're an all-time great team that just added an MVP. Most of their games will be over by halftime.

It's going to be babysteps and they have shown improvement as far as their activity on the defensive end. They're creating more turnovers then they did last season.

This is what a rebuild looks like.

justsomelakerfan · Franchise Player Joined: 16 Jul 2016 Posts: 10939