On February 1st, amidst the buzz of the Los Angeles Lakers` acquisition of Luka Doncic, an important detail from that evening`s game might have been overlooked.
The Lakers secured a 128-112 victory against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, showcasing a robust defensive performance even without Anthony Davis, their key defensive player. The game stats revealed their strategy: limiting Knicks` primary scorers Jalen Brunson (16 points, 7-for-18 shooting) and Karl-Anthony Towns (17 points, 3-for-12 shooting), while Josh Hart, a supporting player, had a strong offensive game (26 points, 11-for-16 shooting).
Further evidence appeared in their subsequent 122-97 win against the Clippers. James Harden struggled, scoring only seven points on 2-for-12 shooting, and Kawhi Leonard had 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting. Then, against the Warriors, they won 120-112, holding Stephen Curry to 37 points but with poor 3-point shooting (6-for-20).
Over the next month, as the Lakers surged in the Western Conference standings with a 13-2 record, NBA coaches and scouts began analyzing their win over the Knicks, seeking to understand the team`s defensive transformation. They had jumped from 20th to 1st in defensive ranking within three months.
How could a team missing its defensive anchor limit Brunson and Towns to a combined 30% shooting? Was it simply poor shooting nights for Harden, Leonard, and Curry? Or had the Lakers, known for smaller lineups, developed an unconventional defensive approach to neutralize top NBA talent?
ESPN`s Kendrick Perkins suggested the Lakers were allowing 3-point shots, challenging teams to beat them from beyond the arc. Others highlighted the defensive contributions of Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent. One scout simply stated to ESPN, “They`re just playing with intense effort.”
While these observations held some truth, none fully explained how the Lakers achieved such defensive dominance without their best defenders. More importantly, the question remained whether this defensive strategy would hold up when championships are on the line.
Around this period, Mike Krzyzewski, former Duke coach, contacted JJ Redick, his former player and the Lakers` rookie head coach. Krzyzewski, a regular NBA viewer, had been particularly focused on the Lakers this season.
“I reached out to him and joked, `Who would have thought you could coach defense?`” Krzyzewski remarked.
Redick was recognized as a top player at Duke, but early in his NBA career, defensive shortcomings sometimes limited his playing time despite his shooting skills. He eventually improved defensively, becoming a valuable player for teams like the Clippers, 76ers, and Pelicans.
“What they`re implementing appears straightforward,” Krzyzewski told ESPN, “but it requires significant preparation. They are forcing opponents to rely more on their less efficient shooters.”
The concept might seem simple – make scoring difficult for key players while encouraging shots from less capable ones. However, the Lakers` defensive strategy is more intricate. It originated from Redick and his staff`s offseason analysis of how NBA defenses can operate against today`s spread offenses, considering refereeing tendencies.
Even with an elite defender like Davis, a premier rim protector, consistently stopping modern NBA superstars in pick-and-roll situations is challenging due to the emphasis on 3-point shooting.
Many teams prioritize acquiring perimeter defenders to slow down stars before they reach the paint and Davis. However, current hand-checking rules make even this approach difficult.
The Lakers began the season with another challenge: starting guards D`Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves, who are not known for their individual perimeter defense. They needed a defensive system to address this weakness and reduce the burden on Davis as the primary backline defender.
The strategy developed was to create the illusion of a crowded court for ball handlers, rather than always directing them towards Davis.
This approach had intermittent success in the first half of the season. The Lakers` defense became more consistent after acquiring Finney-Smith in late December, who became a regular part of the rotation a few weeks later.
Top players will always find ways to score. The Lakers use data analytics to pinpoint the least effective shots of each star player and aim to force them into taking those shots, rather than their preferred ones.
The Lakers excel at limiting shots in the paint, with only about 39.9% of opponent shots coming from inside, ranking third-lowest in the NBA according to GeniusIQ, a sports analytics platform. Conversely, they allow a high volume of 3-pointers; 49% of shots against them are from deep, the second-highest in the league.
Reflecting on the Knicks game: The Lakers aggressively defended Brunson and Towns, pushing them to pass to less potent offensive options like Hart, McBride, and Achiuwa. Brunson and Towns faced an average of 1.37 defenders per shot attempt, their third-highest mark of the season, per GeniusIQ. In contrast, Hart and McBride faced only 0.92 defenders per attempt, their seventh-lowest when combining for 20+ shots.
Defenders guarding less threatening players actively help on more dangerous ones, often leaving their assigned player open. For example, Vincent left McBride open to obstruct a passing lane to Brunson, who was already being guarded by Christie.
This strategy is deliberate. The Lakers double-team inside the arc at the second-highest rate in the NBA, only behind Oklahoma City. In the Knicks game, McBride, left open at the 3-point line, air-balled a shot, which James then secured.
James plays a “quarterback” role in this defensive scheme, as described by Redick.
Redick positions James centrally in defensive decision-making, relying on his high basketball IQ to direct coverages and adjustments. “Quarterback is typically an offensive role, but he quarterbacks our defense,” Redick explained. “His voice and understanding are crucial.”
Observing the Lakers` defense, James is constantly directing teammates, indicating positioning and timing.
“In a recent game against the Rockets,” Redick noted, “Reaves switched onto a bigger player. Instantly, LeBron yelled, `Scram! Get out, AR! Get out of here!` These plays enhance our defensive cohesion.”
The Lakers struggled defensively when James was absent, particularly after his groin injury on March 8 against the Celtics. However, they regained their defensive form upon his return on March 22. From January 30 to the regular season`s end, the Lakers ranked sixth in opponent 3-point percentage and defended the eighth-most 3-point attempts per game.
Essentially, the Lakers conceded many 3-point attempts, but opponents` accuracy was low. According to GeniusIQ, opponents shot 36.8% on wide-open 3s against the Lakers since January 30, the third-best rate “allowed” in the league during that period.
Why? Because the Lakers are successfully forcing less efficient shooters to take those 3-pointers.
How? Through constant communication, sometimes to the point of losing their voices.
James leads this communication when playing, but Vanderbilt, Finney-Smith, and Vincent also take on this role when he`s off the court. Assistant coach Greg St. Jean frequently directs from the sideline, often becoming hoarse from calling out defensive plays.
The outcome is a defense that outperforms expectations based on individual player reputations. “People might see us as small,” Reaves commented about the Lakers` lineups without a traditional center after Davis`s trade. “But we often have five guys who are 6-foot-7 or taller… and when we`re playing well, we`re all connected.”
At times, their defense may resemble a zone, packing the paint and rotating to cover gaps. However, it`s not a zone defense. It`s a mix of modern analytics and a classic approach of denying easy shots to players one pass away.
The goal is to play the percentages, disrupt the opponent`s offensive plans, and force quality players into taking less effective shots, while also encouraging less skilled players to shoot more by conceding open looks.
Effectively implementing this strategy requires time and trust. When trust falters, the defense suffers. But this approach represents the Lakers` best defensive strategy after roster changes.
In the first round against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves, a versatile team, the Lakers` defense will face a significant test.
