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Lakers did play great defense the first 5-7 games but the last 12 games?
They rank 24th in DRTG just ahead of 3 teams like Pistons, Hornets, Spurs really tanking.
Last 10 games ranked 26th is DRTG, 25TH in pts in the paint allowed. 24th in Opponents pts fastbreak.

For this team to stay competitive at least, they need to play great defense but what ever happened to Ham's press conference telling everyone he'll demand sacrifice and that he'll prioritize on defense. Rob got rid of 5 really good shooters from last year because they played bad defense, replaced them with young athletic guys and STILL they sucked on defending teams.
Clippers have been winning games even with Kawhi and George load managing with their very stingy defense, ranking 4th over all.
Bulls did it before even without Rose.

tamaraw08 wrote:Lakers did play great defense the first 5-7 games but the last 12 games?
They rank 24th in DRTG just ahead of 3 teams like Pistons, Hornets, Spurs really tanking.
Last 10 games ranked 26th is DRTG, 25TH in pts in the paint allowed. 24th in Opponents pts fastbreak.

For this team to stay competitive at least, they need to play great defense but what ever happened to Ham's press conference telling everyone he'll demand sacrifice and that he'll prioritize on defense. Rob got rid of 5 really good shooters from last year because they played bad defense, replaced them with young athletic guys and STILL they sucked on defending teams.
Clippers have been winning games even with Kawhi and George load managing with their very stingy defense, ranking 4th over all.
Bulls did it before even without Rose.

Maybe it wasn't the shooters last year and maybe it's not the young athletic guys this year. There is a group that's still here and was there last year you could point out.... and rightfully so.

Landsberger wrote:

tamaraw08 wrote:Lakers did play great defense the first 5-7 games but the last 12 games?
They rank 24th in DRTG just ahead of 3 teams like Pistons, Hornets, Spurs really tanking.
Last 10 games ranked 26th is DRTG, 25TH in pts in the paint allowed. 24th in Opponents pts fastbreak.

For this team to stay competitive at least, they need to play great defense but what ever happened to Ham's press conference telling everyone he'll demand sacrifice and that he'll prioritize on defense. Rob got rid of 5 really good shooters from last year because they played bad defense, replaced them with young athletic guys and STILL they sucked on defending teams.
Clippers have been winning games even with Kawhi and George load managing with their very stingy defense, ranking 4th over all.
Bulls did it before even without Rose.

Maybe it wasn't the shooters last year and maybe it's not the young athletic guys this year. There is a group that's still here and was there last year you could point out.... and rightfully so.

Oh yeah, which group was that, the same ones who won the chip then the following year lead the league in DRTG?

Our defensive rating tanks when we don’t have davis. That’s what it is and it gets worse when we don’t have dudes like Gabriel and have to compensate for it with three guard line ups.

Slava wrote:Our defensive rating tanks when we don’t have davis. That’s what it is and it gets worse when we don’t have dudes like Gabriel and have to compensate for it with three guard line ups.

They have been playing bad defense after 8 games or so even with AD. A lot of it is because they have been trying so hard to quicken the pace to help Russ and the rest get going. If you notice Russ gets his points and assists on fast transition baskets and they sucked so bad in half court sets esp when pace slows down in the 4th quarters where they usually collapse.

tamaraw08 wrote:

Landsberger wrote:

tamaraw08 wrote:Lakers did play great defense the first 5-7 games but the last 12 games?
They rank 24th in DRTG just ahead of 3 teams like Pistons, Hornets, Spurs really tanking.
Last 10 games ranked 26th is DRTG, 25TH in pts in the paint allowed. 24th in Opponents pts fastbreak.

For this team to stay competitive at least, they need to play great defense but what ever happened to Ham's press conference telling everyone he'll demand sacrifice and that he'll prioritize on defense. Rob got rid of 5 really good shooters from last year because they played bad defense, replaced them with young athletic guys and STILL they sucked on defending teams.
Clippers have been winning games even with Kawhi and George load managing with their very stingy defense, ranking 4th over all.
Bulls did it before even without Rose.

Maybe it wasn't the shooters last year and maybe it's not the young athletic guys this year. There is a group that's still here and was there last year you could point out.... and rightfully so.

Oh yeah, which group was that, the same ones who won the chip then the following year lead the league in DRTG?

Magic stats aside.... Davis, Bron and Westbrook have not been good defensively. Bron plays 15 minutes of good defense a week with a lot of old guy stuff between. Davis, when healthy and engaged is still a difference maker defensively.... Westbrook... well.

The overall thought that defense can be fixed with one or two guys with some magic stats that say they are good defenders is where I get lost. Defense is a team aspect of the game. The best defender around barely changes a bad scheme and/or effort. The best thing for team defense is consistent lineups and a team that's bought in. I'd say that's coaching but on a team with Bron the coach is a distant voice... and one with Klutch calling the shots it's even a further voice.

tamaraw08 wrote:

Slava wrote:Our defensive rating tanks when we don’t have davis. That’s what it is and it gets worse when we don’t have dudes like Gabriel and have to compensate for it with three guard line ups.

They have been playing bad defense after 8 games or so even with AD. A lot of it is because they have been trying so hard to quicken the pace to help Russ and the rest get going. If you notice Russ gets his points and assists on fast transition baskets and they sucked so bad in half court sets esp when pace slows down in the 4th quarters where they usually collapse.

Yeah, high pace, turnovers and lazy defenders in transition is a toxic combo and Westbrook is culpable of all of them.

AD plays defense for like three people. Him in street clothes means lost games. We need a reliable C so we can play AD fewer minutes in the deep paint.

Landsberger wrote:

tamaraw08 wrote:

Landsberger wrote:
Maybe it wasn't the shooters last year and maybe it's not the young athletic guys this year. There is a group that's still here and was there last year you could point out.... and rightfully so.

Oh yeah, which group was that, the same ones who won the chip then the following year lead the league in DRTG?

Magic stats aside.... Davis, Bron and Westbrook have not been good defensively. Bron plays 15 minutes of good defense a week with a lot of old guy stuff between. Davis, when healthy and engaged is still a difference maker defensively.... Westbrook... well.

The overall thought that defense can be fixed with one or two guys with some magic stats that say they are good defenders is where I get lost. Defense is a team aspect of the game. The best defender around barely changes a bad scheme and/or effort. The best thing for team defense is consistent lineups and a team that's bought in. I'd say that's coaching but on a team with Bron the coach is a distant voice... and one with Klutch calling the shots it's even a further voice.

I don't disagree about your take about Russ. He does play bad defense, so does Lonnie Walker.
Bron with is age and his focus on breaking scoring records has compromised his defense but I don't think James is the main reason why this team has been struggling to defend. Lebron and AD 2 years ago played great defense under Vogel WITH good defenders like KCP, Kuz and Caruso and I really believe these players being gone and being replaced by weak defenders like Russ and Lonnie etc plus the super fast pace they are playing are the main culprits.

Disturbing stats:

• Westbrook’s expiring is yet to be traded.
• Without AD, our defense is 26th of 30.
• Defensive system “1-on-1-times-5” doesn’t work
• Too many possessions per game, slow it down
• Relying on old superstars playing 40MPG is bad
• Run-and-gun without a defense system isn’t the same as having an offensive system, nor is it a good plan for the playoffs—1st round exit
• Allowing more points than necessary by virtue of non existent defense loses us games(!), shocker
• 150 plus points given up at home isn’t Lakers basketball
…

I've been saying this in other threads, the 84 Million dollar man is the KEY. This front office brought him in, and Pelinka clearly believes in him, or he wouldn't have offered him 84 Mil. We are going to lean on him to be the Major Key in our team coming up. This is pelinkas plan

What are the odds of having them both healthy again for a season and play-off run

Can the Lakers find them a Worthy to run with after the Westbrook past-accolade trade

LAKESHOW wrote:I've been saying this in other threads, the 84 Million dollar man is the KEY. This front office brought him in, and Pelinka clearly believes in him, or he wouldn't have offered him 84 Mil. We are going to lean on him to be the Major Key in our team coming up. This is pelinkas plan

After playing 3 monster games vs Miami, ATL and the Kings, Dennis has struggled the past 5 games, failing to hit above 33.3% from the field averaging 8.6 pts shooting 1-15 from 3 for a horrid 6% 3pt%. While I still believe he can play good on ball defense, I'm afraid he doesn't address the 3pt shooting problems this Lakers badly need.

I think Lonnie Walker should be the odd man out in the rotation. I don't think his play style fits the team at all and I actually think Nunn is a better fit. Rotation should be:

G - Dennis | Russ
G - Bev | Nunn
F - TBJ | Austin
F - LBJ | Wenyen
C - AD | TB

Leaving Lonnie, JTA, and Christie as the emergency backups.

Liam_Gallagher wrote:I think Lonnie Walker should be the odd man out in the rotation. I don't think his play style fits the team at all and I actually think Nunn is a better fit. Rotation should be:

G - Dennis | Russ
G - Bev | Nunn
F - TBJ | Austin
F - LBJ | Wenyen
C - AD | TB

Leaving Lonnie, JTA, and Christie as the emergency backups.

I like Nunn, he has shot much better after really struggling for the 2 first months of the season but his short stature is such a huge problem for a team who badly need some wing defense. Lonnie is 6-4 and has the ability to attack if his shots are not falling. The problem is that both are not great defenders too.