7 LAKERS IN TOP-50 DEF RTG SINCE FEB 1Since Feb 1st, 7 of the 50 NBA players who played at least 4 games and averaged at least 20 mpg with the best defensive rating were Los Angeles Lakers.Think about that. Over the last month, 7 of the 50 best NBA defenders were Lakers. No… pic.twitter.com/RfkEMfMnCb— LakerTom (@LakerTom) March 3, 2025
#04 102.0 – Gabe Vincent
#10 103.9 – Jaxson Hayes
#11 104.0 – Dorian Finney-Smith
#21 105.1 – LeBron James
#34 107.1 – Rui Hachimura
#35 107.1 – Austin Reaves
#39 1-7.9 – Luka Doncic
This is the kind of analytical proof that this team has bought into what JJ is preaching 100%. It also shows how important team is in these individual ratings.
Anybody who thinks the Lakers #1 defense is a mirage that will disappear in the playoffs has not watched this team over the last 7 games or last 90 days.
Everybody thought the Lakers were going to be an offensive juggernaut and by the time the playoffs start, that’s what they might be on offense.
But it’s the #1 defense after trading Anthony Davis and Max Christie for Luka Doncic that has the rest of the NBA befuddled. One by one, teams have to play the new Lakers and quickly find out that L.A.’s defense is for real and is only going to get better.