The Lakers’ recent performance has come as a big surprise to fans. After the return of James and Hachimura, the team should have been in high spirits, but they suffered back-to-back losses to the Magic (106-118) and Bulls (115-146). This not only made fans doubt the slogan “Lakers championship”, but also made the outside world start to re-examine the true strength of this team.
In the past, whenever the Lakers won a game, the expectations of the fans would quickly rise, and the cries of “Lakers championship” would come one after the other. However, the outcome of the regular season does not tell the whole story. It is too extreme to assert that the Lakers have no chance this season just because of one or two losses. But it is undeniable that these two losses have exposed the Lakers’ problems with depth and their defensive system.
The core players are in a slump: James and Hachimura are to blame
In these two games, the performance of the Lakers’ core players was clearly below expectations. Although James scored 24 points against the Magic, he was not very efficient, as he missed all three of his three-point attempts. In the game against the Bulls, he made only 7 of 16 field goals and had 5 turnovers. Such a performance is clearly substandard for an experienced veteran.
The situation of Rui Hachimura is even more worrying. He has just returned and his physical condition has not yet fully recovered. According to his own disclosure, his current physical fitness level is only 60%-70%. He has played as a substitute in two consecutive games and has only scored a total of 10 points, and 1 of 6 three-pointers. As one of the Lakers’ rotation players, Hachimura’s poor form directly affected the overall offensive and defensive quality of the team.
In addition, although new recruit Luka Dončić has shown great basketball intelligence, it will take time for him to gel with his teammates. Especially when facing strong opponents, the Lakers’ chemistry seems to be unstable.
Defense collapses: lack of a leader becomes a fatal weakness
If the problems on the offensive end can be solved by adjusting tactics, the loopholes in the defensive end are more difficult to deal with. The Lakers allowed the Bulls to score 146 points against them, and they lost 34 points in the third quarter against the Magic. This collapse of the defense makes people wonder: what has gone wrong with the once-proud defensive system?
The NBA has a term for the “Point of Attack Defender”, which is the “leader defender” responsible for guarding the opposing team’s core ball carrier. This role requires excellent one-on-one defense skills, speed in following the opponent, and the ability to disrupt the opponent’s offensive system. Unfortunately, the current Lakers do not have a truly qualified leader defender.
Although the team has defensive stalwarts such as Finn Smith and Vince, they each have their own shortcomings. For example, Vincent is only 1.88 meters tall, and is often unable to compete with taller guards; while Finn Smith’s lateral movement speed is relatively slow, making it difficult for him to keep up with fast, smaller players.
Even the highly-anticipated Pico (Holden Tucker) has been unable to fill this role due to his increased weight, which has slowed his feet. Coach Redick seems to be aware of this, and has not given Pico much playing time.
Weak inside: the 5-spot is the biggest shortcoming
In addition to the defensive problems, the Lakers’ weak inside also deserves attention. After losing the trade of Mark Williams, the Lakers have almost no one available for the 5-spot. Hayes, the only one who can play center at the moment, is good at dunks, but his ability to guard the rim and protect the ball is seriously lacking. In the nine games in March, he only had double-digit rebounds in two games, and such statistics obviously cannot meet the needs of the playoffs.
In addition, two-way contract players Goodwin and Jamison have received some playing time, but their strength is not yet sufficient to support the Lakers’ interior needs. If the Lakers insist on using a small lineup, they may collapse due to physical exhaustion in the series.
The battle with the Nuggets: a flash in the pan
Looking back at the Lakers’ 23-point victory over the Nuggets on February 23, many people see it as a benchmark for an all-Lakers team. In that game, the Lakers managed to limit Jokic and showed championship-level performance on both offense and defense. However, this victory was actually the result of a combination of factors.
First, the Nuggets have lacked obvious changes recently, and the Lakers head coach, Frank Vogel, has studied them very thoroughly, almost predicting all of their reactions. Second, the entire Nuggets team was in a low state that day and could not keep up with the Lakers’ game pace at all. In other words, the victory in this game does not represent the true level of the Lakers.
In fact, when the depleted Lakers challenged the Nuggets again on March 15, they were unable to completely limit Murray’s play. The latter scored 26 points on 9 of 16 shots and ended the game at a critical moment. This fully demonstrates that even with James and Luo Ka, the Lakers still have obvious deficiencies in their overall strength.
How to solve the problem? Summer reinforcement is the key
The Lakers management needs to take action as soon as possible to address the current problems. On the one hand, the team can continue to tap the potential of existing players, such as increasing the playing time of Hayes and Jeter, and improving their abilities through actual combat. On the other hand, targeted reinforcements are needed during the offseason.
This summer, the Lakers must prioritize the introduction of a reliable center. Signing Nance Reid on a low salary or pursuing a more senior-level player like Zobonis are both options worth considering. Only by addressing the weakness at the 5 position can the Lakers go further in the playoffs.
A calm view of the Lakers’ future
Despite the Lakers’ current problems, we shouldn’t be overly pessimistic. After all, they have improved significantly since acquiring Luka, and a rapport has quickly developed between James, Reeves and Luka. This chemistry proves that the core framework of the team is healthy.
Of course, the Lakers still have a lot to overcome if they want to return to the top. In the short term, Redick needs to find the right lead defender and optimize the team’s defensive system; in the long term, they need to use the offseason to strengthen the roster, especially the interior positions.
For fans, patience is especially important. With Luka, the Lakers have a future. This season, regardless of success or failure, will be an important step on the team’s growth path. Let’s take a longer view and wait until the summer to see if the Lakers can truly transform!
