Lakers Defense Proves the Doubters Wrong

Earlier in the season, the Lakers’ defense was far from its typical imposing self. With Anthony Davis experiencing injuries and Max Christie—the team's defensive breakout player—no longer in the fold, many believed the Lakers were in serious trouble. Davis was more than just a paint protector; he was the backbone of their entire defensive strategy, capable of switching, dropping, and being a nightmare for opposing offenses. Christie, in his first full season with the Lakers, had also emerged as the team's top perimeter defender, shutting down opposing guards with an impressive tenacity.

Without both of them, the Lakers’ defense seemed to be on the brink of collapse. But over the past 10 games, they’ve managed to defy expectations—even without Davis and Christie.

The Lakers have posted the best defensive rating in the league (107) over this stretch, and have allowed the lowest effective field goal percentage (49.5%) in the NBA. For a team that many wrote off as incapable of defending at a high level post the AD-Luka trade, these are some remarkable feats. 

So, how did they do it?

Replacing Davis’s and Christie’s contributions would have been impossible, instead the Lakers focused on filling those gaps by playing as a unit. After a recent practice, JJ Redick put it aptly, explaining that the key to their success has been their improved commitment to team defense:

“We have some really good defenders, but you have to play a team defense and rely on each other… Just playing hard and competing. You’re trying to capture that every night. This is a team sport and the group has to be right."

One of the most striking examples of this collective effort has been how the Lakers have handled some of the league’s best centers, such as Nuggets forward Nikola Jokić. Without Davis to anchor the paint, they’ve adopted a swarming, gang-rebounding approach. The Lakers play aggressive, coordinated defense—switching (referred to as "redding" in the locker room), doubling, fronting the post ("whiting"), and rotating with relentless effort. It’s a team-first mentality, with everyone doing their part.

Despite not having the traditional “big” to protect the rim, the Lakers have been able to limit shots at the basket, especially in half-court situations. Over the past 10 games, they’ve allowed the 7th-lowest conversion rate on shots within 6 feet and rank 11th in offensive rebound percentage allowed. Not only have they contained opponents at the rim, but they’ve significantly reduced second-chance opportunities—giving up just the fifth-fewest putback attempts.