Lakers’ brilliant defensive strategy makes them serious title contenders.
LA is looking like a championship-caliber team.
Lakers fans have had much to cheer about lately. The franchise underwent a dramatic transformation on February 1 when they completed an unexpected trade for Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. JJ Redick’s team was instantly bolstered with a top-five player in the league, along with one of the NBA’s most dangerous postseason performers, not to mention someone who can perfectly complement LeBron James in his final years.
While Doncic’s addition has given the Lakers one of the brightest futures in the NBA, their present situation is also promising. It’s clear that the Lakers are a serious contender for the NBA Finals this season, largely thanks to Luka’s potential to dominate in the playoffs. With Doncic on board, LA has quickly gone from being a top-six contender in the Western Conference to a near-lock for a top-four finish.
The Lakers are on a tear, having won eight consecutive games as of now, and they’ve claimed 14 of their last 16 contests. The only two losses came in consecutive games against the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets last month, as Doncic was still adapting to his new team.
The Lakers are tempting poor shooters to challenge them—and it’s paying off. LA’s success isn’t solely built on Luka’s stellar performances. Yes, the star is averaging 30.3 points, shooting 40% from three, and contributing 12.0 assists per game in March. However, one of the key defensive tactics propelling the team’s current form is allowing weak shooters to take shots, especially from long range.
Redick has executed this strategy flawlessly, and the results speak for themselves. In the Lakers’ last five games, their opponents have been limited to 30% shooting or worse from three-point range. The New York Knicks, New Orleans Pelicans, LA Clippers (twice), and Minnesota Timberwolves combined to shoot just 26.8% from beyond the arc between Feb. 27 and March 6.
This defensive approach, often used by teams in the playoffs, is already delivering results for the Lakers in the regular season. It’s more evidence that this team is poised for a strong postseason performance come April, May, and June. If Luka and the Lakers continue their strong play, there’s legitimate reason for championship optimism in Los Angeles this year.