The Lakers—after the shock of the change wore off—figured out how to completely flip their defensive strategy. In a matter of months, they rose from the league’s 20th ranked defense to first place! That’s thanks in large part to analytics, which have spurred this renaissance. A little-known but precisely designed game plan emphasizes cutting off your opponent’s highest efficiency scoring chances.
The Lakers use predictive analytics to figure out the least productive shots that the best players on other teams are taking. Then they funnel those players into bad shooting spots and systematically run them off their shot. Combined with a talented and deep defensive roster, the Lakers often aggressively double-team inside the arc. They have the second-best record in the entire league, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder. That aggressive, in-your-face approach serves to blow up the offensive flow and force players into more contested, high-difficulty shots.
Beyond the occasional double-team, one of the Lakers’ biggest defensive strategies is to pack the paint like a zone defense. They quickly and efficiently rotate to close driving lanes and gaps in coverage, forming an impenetrable wall against dribble penetration. This new tactic is a genius move! They allow the third-lowest rate of shots attempted against them to come from inside the arc (39.9%).
The Lakers’ defensive strength has struggled when their star LeBron James is off the floor. His absence as the team’s defensive quarterback has led to some key, glaring deficiencies. This became most apparent in the recent home game against the Boston Celtics on March 8. In his absence, the Lakers have struggled to keep up their defensive focus and connectivity.
The addition of Dorian Finney-Smith in late December was the beginning of a shift in the Lakers’ defensive philosophy. Since bringing him into the rotation, one of the worst run defenses in the league has hardened its run stance dramatically. He does so much for this team on both sides of the ball. It’s this contested-scoring ability that makes the Lakers’ new addition so versatile and dangerous.
What the Lakers do really well is force teams to shoot three-point attempts. Incredibly, 49% of the shots they’ve faced have come from three-point land — the second highest ratio in the league. This strategy focuses on the worst shooters from the other team, forcing them to shoot bad shots. Ever since January 30, the Lakers have been leading the league in three-point defense. They’ve forced opponents into taking 36.8% on wide-open three-pointers, standing third-best in the league since this stretch began.
The Lakers’ defense might not jump off the page right away, but the communication and trust in each other’s abilities is astounding. With them, they’ve done the unbelievable. They’ve done it by largely preventing shots in closer, high value areas and instead chasing opponents into the less efficient long two and three-point shots.
“He’s our quarterback on defense,” JJ Redick said, emphasizing the importance of LeBron James’ voice to set defensive schemes and matchups.
Austin Reaves noted, “People might look at us and say we’re going small,” highlighting how the Lakers’ strategic adjustments have altered perceptions about their lineup and style of play.
The Lakers have effectively forced teams to take difficult shots, as seen with notable players like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. The tactical approach to every match has propelled them to an elite level of defensive performance few teams can hope to match.
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