It’s not the lineups, the injuries or necessarily the system. The cause of the Lakers“The defensive disappearance is a thousand little decisions gone wrong.
“It’s just about making a choice,” coach JJ Redick said after the Lakers gave up 132 points in a blowout loss at the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. “It’s making a choice. There are shortcuts you can take or you can do the hard thing and you can do the second effort or you can go back or you can’t. It’s just a choice and there are a million choices in a game, and you probably won’t get every choice right. But can you do the vast majority of them right? That gives you a chance to win.”
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After suffering back-to-back losses for the first time this season, the Lakers (19-9) are ranked 28th in defensive rating over the last 14 games ahead of a Christmas Day showcase against the Houston Rockets at 5 p.m. PST at Crypto.com Arena.
The Lakers, without any individual defenders, need a perfectly executed team defense to compete. But 15 different starting lineups in 28 games have stunted some of the team’s ability to build continuity. The Lakers had their full roster of 14 players on standard contracts for two games.
Forward Rui Hachimura (groin) and Luka Doncic (leg) could return on Thursday. Guard Gabe Vincent, one of the team’s top defensive options on the perimeter, will miss his fourth game with lower back soreness. Center Jaxson Hayes twisted his left ankle in the second quarter of Tuesday’s loss and did not return.
The Rockets (17-10) head into the Christmas Day blockbuster with their own set of challenges. The team that was thought to be one of the few that could challenge Oklahoma City in the West has lost five of its last seven games. Three of the losses came in overtime and four were against teams currently excluded from play-ins, including Tuesday’s loss. defeat against the Clippers.
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Learn more: Austin Reaves’ return can’t save Lakers from dismal defensive effort in loss to Suns
Led by Kevin Durant’s 25.2 points, the Rockets are a statistical anomaly in the modern, fast-paced, possession-maximizing NBA. They have the third-ranked offense in the league despite being one of the slowest. They shoot the fewest three-pointers per game, but manage to hit a 40% rate that ranks second and dominate the glass with an NBA-leading 48.7 rebounds and 16.1 offensive rebounds per game.
Houston’s physicality and expertise on the boards could be particularly worrisome for a team that still has to consciously choose defense on a possession-by-possession basis instead of consistently upholding hard-play standards.
“There’s really no defense, no plan that we can put together when we’re giving up offensive rebounds in crucial moments like we are, our (opponents) are getting wherever they want on the court,” the guard said. Smart Marcus said after Tuesday’s loss. “And there’s no help, there’s no resistance, there’s no urgency. … It’s our fault.”
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The Suns grabbed 12 offensive rebounds against the Lakers on 35 missed shots, for an offensive rebound rate of 34.3%. After the Suns scored three points by twice grabbing offensive rebounds from tipped balls, Lakers players had a heated discussion during a timeout with Smart motioning to center Deandre Ayton about rebounds. Ayton, who finished with 10 rebounds and 12 points, and Smart ended the timeout with a high-five.
“(I have to) keep talking to guys, even if sometimes they don’t want to hear it,” said Smart, a free agent whom the Lakers coveted for his leadership and tenacity on defense. “Especially when we lose, no one wants to hear it, including me, but also understands that it is essential for us to hear these things, to see and to be able to talk and understand each other as players on the pitch, because we are the ones who are there.”
Redick has intentionally created moments for players to connect and communicate at every timeout this season before the coaches speak. The strategy aimed to encourage players to take on a greater leadership role. “Championship communication” was one of the three pillars of the team.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, left, fouls Clippers guard James Harden during a layup during their game Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
In addition to “championship form,” Redick also asked his team to develop “championship habits.” Living up to the mantras is easier said than done.
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“It’s not an easy choice,” Redick said. “It’s human nature. … We do it every day. We make easy choices because it’s comfortable. Comfort doesn’t win.”
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This story was originally published in Los Angeles Times.
