Lakerholics

In a league where great offense commonly beats great defense, the Los Angeles Lakers have built a championship team around a set of defensive principles that are redefining how defense is played in the modern NBA.

These defensive principles represent a dramatic transformation in how to defend modern analytically driven offenses where unstoppable superstars dominate the ball while surrounded by cadres of dead eye 3-point shooters. While related, these three principles form the heart of the Lakers’ defensive philosophy: defenses need to act rather than react, defenses should leave no man on an island, and defense is just offense without the ball.

The symbiosis behind the evolution of the Lakers’ innovative championship defensive philosophy was the serendipitous pairing of defensive coaching genius Frank Vogel and modern defensive center unicorn Anthony Davis. Just as Draymond Green enabled the Warriors’ innovative switch everything Death Lineup to succeed, Anthony Davis has given coach Vogel the perfect modern center to anchor the Lakers swarming attack dog team defense.

The transition from the passive drop coverage the Lakers’ centers had been playing on ball screens to the aggressive hedging, trapping, and doubling they trusted in the playoffs set the stage for an offseason roster makeover. They replaced older less mobile defenders like McGee, Howard, and Green with younger, quicker, and longer players like Schroder, Harrell, and Horton-Tucker who could thrive in a fast rotating team oriented defense.

So let’s take a closer look at how each of the three defensive principles upon which the Lakers have built their aggressive swarming ‘attack dog’ defense work and how they’ve contributed to the Lakers’ defensive transformation:

1. DEFENSES NEED TO ACT RATHER THAN REACT

This is the core principle Lakers’ head coach Frank Vogel has embraced in his defensive evolution from a coach who before the Lakers had built his career on the philosophy defense started inside-out with rim protection. Abandoning passive drop coverage schemes designed to stop shots at the rim for an aggressive outside-in perimeter defense strategy designed to prevent players from getting into the paint was a revolutionary move .

It also was exactly the kind of innovative defensive scheme that takes full advantage of a modern mobile defensive center like Anthony Davis who can both protect the rim and switch and guard smaller players on the perimeter. More importantly, the Lakers’ swarming ‘attack dog’ defense with its traps, hedges, and doubles is exactly what the Lakers need to disrupt the perimeter focused 3-point dominant offenses that dominate the NBA.

The Lakers’ decision to dump McGee and Howard and abandon drop coverage schemes for an aggressive swarming proactive strategy was a first step to a defense that attacks rather than reacts to offensive actions.

2. DEFENSES SHOULD LEAVE NO MAN ON AN ISLAND

The seemingly unstoppable transcendent offensive skills and talent of the superstar players who dominate the NBA today have transformed the cliche that ‘great offense can beat great defense’ into a harsh every game reality. Throw in the analytics preference for layups and threes and most NBA offenses now focus on getting to the rim for an easy basket, driving and dishing for a dunk, or driving and kicking to an open shooter for a three.

Stopping ball handlers from getting into the paint thus becomes defenses’ greatest priority and most NBA teams do this by having help defenders cheat and create a wall and having bigs play drop coverage to clog the paint. The Lakers have instead decided to trap, hedge, and double ball handlers off ball screens to prevent them from beating single coverage and penetrating and relying on multiple coordinated quick rotations to plug any holes.

It’s a gambling scrambling style of defense that leaves no man on an island and focuses on forcing the ball out of the hands of opposing teams’ stars and forcing offenses to adjust to the Lakers’ defense rather than vice versa.

3. DEFENSE IS JUST OFFENSE WITHOUT THE BALL

The idea that defense is just offense without the ball is the mortar that holds the Lakers’ defensive philosophy together. It’s the guiding principle that transforms activity over passivity and team over individual into a system. Approaching defense as offense without the ball fundamentally refocuses everything a team does on the defensive end. The goal becomes to attack rather than just react, to create advantages in numbers and matchups.

Just as offenses run plays to create 2-on-1 or 3-on-2 advantages, the Lakers’ swarming traps and doubles are plays designed to create chaos and force ball handlers to give up the ball to players not as talented or as dangerous. Like many offenses that ‘hunt’ weak defenders, the Lakers’ defense seeks to take the ball out of the hands of other teams’ best scorers and playmakers and put in the hands of less skilled and more mistake prone role players.

The Lakers’ swarming ‘attack dog’ team defense is just offense without the ball and a defensive style that creates mismatches and forces turnovers that ignite the lethal fast break opportunities that blow games wide open.

It’s important to remember that the Lakers swarming ‘attack dog’ defense is still very much a work in progress and far from the finished product playoff opponents are likely to face. Right now, it’s still in the experimental stage. Coach Vogel is still adjusting the system to accommodate his new personnel. The Lakers also still need a mobile modern defensive center who can both protect the rim and switch and defend smaller players on the perimeter.

Right now, the Lakers are in the same regular season mode as last year with Marc Gasol and Montrezl Harrell mimicking JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard by eating up minutes at the center to save wear and tear on AD. Once the playoffs start, the Lakers will go small and revert to their swarming ‘attack dog’ team defense with a combination of Davis with Harrell or Morris manning the four and five and Marc Gasol becoming JaVale McGee.

This offseason, the Lakers will likely look to make a major move to bring in a modern two way center like Myles Turner, Chris Boucher, or Christian Wood so they can stretch the floor on offense and defend all levels on defense. That’s what the Lakers need more than a third superstar to build another dynasty and they’ve done a commendable job accumulating a portfolio of valuable trading chips to be able to pull off such a trade this next offseason.

In the meantime, the Lakers have a vision for present and the future that’s built upon a swarming ‘attack dog’ team defense that’s the perfect weapon to counter today’s analytic driven, superstar dominated modern offenses.

Rallying behind the swarming ‘small ball’ defense that won their 17th championship, the Los Angeles Lakers held the Denver Nuggets to 35 points in the second half and under 100 points for the first time this season.

With a lock down second half, the Lakers’ top ranked defense dismantled the Nuggets’ offense, shut down Denver superstars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, and turned a 12-point halftime deficit into a 114–93 blowout. Aggressively hedging, trapping, and doubling Jokic and Murray in the second half, the Lakers’ scrambling ‘small ball’ defense held Nikola to just 13 points on 6–16 shooting and Jamal to 20 points on 7–17 shooting.

After struggling over the last four games of a long road trip, the Lakers and LeBron James were ready to make a statement game against the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic, whom they beat 4–1 in last season’s conference semifinals. Fresh from breaking the red hot Utah Jazz’s 11-game win streak and buoyed by Nikola Jokic’s career best 47 points, the Nuggets were seeking a major revenge and redemption game against the world champion Lakers.

Unfortunately, the Lakers were the team to make a statement. After the high powered Nuggets’ offense scored 58 points in the first half, Frank Vogel turned to the Lakers’ ‘small ball’ defense that won the championship. Essentially benching starting center Marc Gasol 5 minutes into the second half, Vogel then unleashed the swarming, trapping, and doubling small ball defense the Lakers had surprised teams with to dominate the playoffs.

With the more mobile Anthony Davis and Montrezl Harrell playing center, the Lakers’ defense suffocated the Nuggets’ offense and created a chaos of turnovers and missed shots that triggered waves of Lakers fast break points. The killer was a 15–0 Lakers’ run to finish the 3rd quarter that transformed a 12-point Lakers halftime deficit into an 8-point Lakers lead that grew as big as 25 points as both teams emptied their benches to close the game.

The Lakers’ top ranked defense had a defensive rating of 96.9 for the game and 72.9 for the second half. The turnover fueled Lakers’ offense posted an offensive rating of 117.5 for the game and then 138.8 for the second half. LeBron James recorded his 94th career triple double and single handedly put an end to the budding Nikola Jokic for MVP campaign with a dominant 27-point, 10-rebound, and 10-assist totally MVP worthy performance.

Game balls to LeBron for his triple double, Dennis for his 21 points and inspiring loose ball double dive, THT for his 17-point, 3-rebound, 2-assist, and 3-steal masterpiece, and AD, Trezz, and Kuzma for energy at both ends. While the Lakers are regaining their championship mojo, there are still questions: Has Marc Gasol become this season’s JaVale McGee? When will Anthony Davis start to play like the second best player on the planet?

For now, the Lakers proved they can still ‘flip the switch’ into championship mode. The challenge will be to stay focused with big games looming this month against the Nuggets in Denver, the Nets in LA, and the Jazz in Utah.

Just 4 games ago, the world champion Los Angeles Lakers were cruising along with a league best 14–4 record, 7th ranked offensive rating at 113.6, top ranked defensive rating at 103.9, and top ranked net rating at 9.7.

Then the Lakers’ juggernaut ran aground, losing a 1-point heartbreaker to the Sixers and a 15-point dispiriting loss to the 3–14 Pistons before pulling out a 1-point win over the Celtics and a late 8-point win over the Hawks. During those 4 games, the Lakers’ 107.2 offensive rating was 23rd, 108.8 defense rating 6th, -1.6 net rating 18th, 46.0% field goal shooting 18th, 34.0% 3-point shooting 27th, 39.3 rebounds 28th, and 22.3 assists 23rd.

Whether you write off this 4-game stretch of subpar play as just an anomaly in a long regular season or the Lakers as a team regressing to the mean, the concern is the sudden collapse included almost every player on the roster. For those 4 games, every single Lakers’ starter except for LeBron James and every single reserve except for Alex Caruso had a negative plus/minus. This was a team wide collapse we never saw in last year’s championship run.

Tonight, the Lakers face a major test to see if they can flip the switch and get back to playing like champions in a rematch with a red hot Denver Nuggets team they dominated on their way to their 17th championship last season. The 12–8 Denver Nuggets are fresh off a big win that ended the 16–5 Utah Jazz’ 11-game winning streak with center Nikola Jokic matching a career high 47 points in a 128–117 win where their lead was as high as 28 points.

The Lakers need more than great play from leading MVP candidate LeBron James and bench GOAT Alex Caruso. They need the entire team to get back on track and play with the true focus and fervor of a championship team. That means Anthony Davis needs to start playing like the second best player on the planet, slumping starters like Marc Gasol and KCP need to shed the cobwebs, and key reserves like Kuzma and THT need to contribute more.

It also means the Lakers need to start playing more like a team instead of just throwing the ball to LeBron or AD and standing around. They also need to play faster as they played at the second slowest pace the last 4 games. The offense is stagnant. The team needs to run plays rather than relying on isolation basketball and LeBron James passing. The coaching staff needs infuse some diversity in the plays as the offense has become predictable.

Right now, the Lakers no longer look like the best team in basketball, which is something I never thought I would be saying after just a 4-game stretch early in the season. The truth is the problems we’re seeing are not surprises. They’re issues that everybody had before the season started but have been covered up by a strong start, unsustainable elite 3-point shooting, and unbelievable MVP quality play from 36-year old superstar LeBron James.

Time to find out if this new Lakers squad is for real. No more excuses about the short turnaround, compressed schedule, challenge of being on the road, not being able to bond or have fans in the stands cheering because of Covid. The Nuggets are ready to rock and roll tonight and knock the Lakers off their throne. They’re primed to for revenge and eager for redemption from their 5-game bludgeoning in last season’s Western Conference Semifinals.

How the Lakers respond tonight will tell us whether the last 4 games were just a glitch in a long season or an early sign Lakers fans should recalibrate their championship expectations. Tonight’s a game the Lakers need to win.

While the Lakers still have the top defensive rating in the league, the rim protection from their new centers Marc Gasol and Montrezl Harrell has not met the standard set last season by JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard.

The problem is the Lakers decided to make a major change in how they defend ball screens and challenge ball handlers to prevent the penetration and wide open shots that came from having their bigs play drop coverage. That strategic change was a big reason why the Lakers rolled through the playoffs and won the championship. But it was also why JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard essentially become unplayable during those playoffs.

While McGee and Howard did a great job protecting the rim, they were like fish out of water defending on the perimeter in the playoffs, which led to the Lakers opting to play small with Anthony Davis and Markieff Morris. Unfortunately, Gasol and Harrell have not only failed to to provide the rim protection of McGee and Howard but also haven’t shown the mobility and athleticism required to aggressively hedge, trap, or double on ball screens.

While both Gasol and Harrell have brought valuable skills to the Lakers’ offense that have made the Lakers a better and more versatile team, neither has the ability to bother shots at the rim and switch onto the perimeter. What the Lakers need to fix their defense is a modern defensive center who can not only block shots and protect the rim but who also has the quickness, mobility, and athleticism to challenge ball handlers out to the 3-point line.

While the Lakers will have space under the hard cap in February to sign a minimum contract veteran, their best option is probably going to be a trade. Here are four possible modern defensive centers the Lakers could target:

1. NEW YORK BACKUP CENTER: NERLENS NOEL

Nerlens Noel is 26-year old, 6′ 11,” 201 lb, 7-year NBA center backing up Mitchell Robinson for the New York Knicks and averaging 3.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.0 steals in 16.8 minutes per game.

Nerlens checks both of the boxes for a modern defensive center as he is capable of protecting the rim and defending shooters on the perimeter. He’s not the offensive threat of Gasol or Harrell but a huge upgrade defensively. Noel is currently making $5 million on 1-year contract. With 22-year old Mitchell Robinson established as the starter, the Knicks might be tempted to trade Noel for a veteran mentor like Marc Gasol and Wesley Matthews.

While the Lakers would lose the spacing and playmaking Gasol provides the starting lineup, Nerlens Noel would give them a starting defensive center capable of defending all positions and levels to complement Anthony Davis.

2. DALLAS BACKUP CENTER: WILLIE CAULEY-STEIN

Willie Cauley-Stein is 27-year old, 7′ 0,” 240 lb, 7-year NBA center backing up Kristaps Porzingis for the Dallas Mavs and averaging 6.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.8 blocks, and 0.4 steals in 18.6 minutes per game.

Like Noel, Cauley-Stein also checks both of the boxes for a modern defensive center as he has the speed, mobility, and athleticism to block shots and protect the rim and switch and defend players on the perimeter. Willie is currently making $4.1 million and the Mavs have a player option for next season. With Porzingis back from injury, the Mavs might be willing to trade Cauley-Stein for a package of Marc Gasol and Wesley Matthews.

As with Noel, the Lakers would be trading offense for defense by replacing Gasol with Cauley-Stein but they would be dramatically upgrading their rim protection and perimeter defense and boosting their chances to repeat.

3. TORONTO BACKUP CENTER: CHRIS BOUCHER

Chris Boucher is 28-year old, 6′ 9,” 200 lb, 3-year NBA center backing up Aron Baynes for the Toronto Raptors and averaging 13.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 0.6 steals in 22.6 minutes per game.

While unproven, Boucher is enjoying a breakout year and is a candidate for MIP. What sets him apart from Noel and Cauley-Stein is his ability to shoot the three as well as protecting the rim and defending out to the 3-point line. Chris is making $6.5 million with a player option next season. The Lakers would need to send Marc Gasol’s 2-year contract, Wesley Matthews, and their 2025 first round pick to tempt the Raptors to trade Chris Boucher.

Boucher would give the Lakers an ideal replacement for Gasol in their starting lineup, a modern offensive and defensive center who could protect the rim, defend on the perimeter, and stretch the floor with his shooting.

4. INDIANA STARTING CENTER: MYLES TURNER

Myles Turner is 24-year old, 6′ 11,” 250 lb, 5-year NBA center starting for the Indiana Pacers and averaging 14.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 4.1 blocks, and 1.3 steals in 32.6 minutes per game.

As the only proven starter among the four candidates, Myles Turner would be the perfect center to play alongside Anthony Davis. Unfortunately, he would also be the most expensive in terms of what it would cost in assets. Myles is in the first year of a 3-year contract paying him $18 million per year. It would take an offer of KCP’s 3-year deal, Gasol’s 2-year deal, and the Lakers’ 2025 first round pick to tempt the Pacers to trade Myles Turner.

Turner checks all the boxes for a modern two-way center. He leads the league in blocks, can defend on the perimeter, and stretch defenses with his shooting. And he has the size and weight to guard Jokic and Embiid.

There’s another four weeks before players signed this offseason will be eligible to be traded but the Lakers are going to be watching and monitoring the above four players and how they and their teams are playing closely. While the Lakers have the option of Anthony Davis playing the five come the playoffs, their biggest roster need is for a long term solution at center to enable them to play the kind of defense that won the championship.

Nerlens Noel, Willie Cauley-Stein, Chris Boucher, and Myles Turner are all promising trade targets whose age and skill sets are perfect matches to play alongside Anthony Davis and make their championship defense even better.

Nobody’s talking about it right now but there’s a good chance the question of who’s going to be the Lakers’ point guard for next season and the future could suddenly become a hot topic of discussion between fans and media.

While many have assumed the Lakers will ultimately reach an agreement on an extension with starting point guard Dennis Schroder, Rob Pelinka cannot ignore the growing interest from other teams in young Talen Horton-Tucker. With both slated to be free agents eligible for big raises this offseason and only one starting point guard position available, the Lakers may be forced to make a decision on who is going to be their point guard of the future.

27-year old Dennis Schroder is the Lakers’ starter at point guard and has demonstrated a lightning quick ability to blow by defenders to get to the rim, gravity as a 3-point shooter, and a toughness as a perimeter defender. 20-year old Talen Horton-Tucker has forced his way into Vogel’s rotation with his elite length, power, and ability to get to the basket and projects as a future two-way star whom some predict could start as soon as next season.

Right now, Schroder is averaging 30.6 minutes per game while Horton-Tucker is only playing 15.3 minutes per game. But when you compare their stats per 36 minutes, the 20-year old THT surprisingly has a slight edge. Considering the age difference, it’s easy to see why the Lakers and other teams are so high on Talen Horton-Tucker. A second year second round pick, THT is already matching the potential of last year’s 6MOY runner up.

In a perfect world, the Lakers would love to extend Schroder and re-sign Horton-Tucker to be his backup. With a little luck, that could happen. But How Schroder and Horton-Tucker play easily could change that dynamic. Right now, both have started to come back to earth after stretches of elite play so the jury is still out. Dennis has slumped after a red hot start to the season while THT has struggled to match his elite preseason play.

Schoder is currently making $16 million per year and will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. If the Lakers want to keep him, they probably need to re-sign him to an extension starting around $20 million. Horton-Tucker is only earning $1.5 million right now and will become a restricted free agent this offseason. The Lakers have his Early Bird Rights so can offer him around the $10 million and match any other offers.

The problem is the Gilbert Arenas exception would allow another team to offer Horton-Tucker a 4-year contract with the first two years at $10 million and last two as high as max salary for an average of $20 million per year. While it’s doubtful any team is going to offer 20-year old Talen a 4-year $80 million contract, there are certainly going to be teams offering him a salary in the $15 to $17 million range in hopes the Lakers will not match the offer.

What seems more and more likely is the Lakers may be forced to choose between extending Schroder or matching what’s likely to be significant offer for Horton-Tucker. The Lakers may not be able to afford to keep them both. The incredible upside of 20-year old Talen Horton-Tucker whom some think has superstar potential could end up preventing the Lakers from offering Schroder an extension, especially if Dennis’ play continues to slump.

With that in mind, Frank Vogel is in a difficult position as it may not be in the Lakers’ best interest to give Horton-Tucker major minutes as that will only encourage other teams to try and steal him this offseason as a free agent. On the other hand, they don’t want to hold back or stunt the growth of a player who might develop into the superstar the Lakers desperately need to complement James and Davis and bridge the post LeBron transition.

While Frank Vogel faces a challenge finding minutes for young Horton-Tucker with six capable veteran guards ahead of him in the rotation, there’s no question the Lakers’ coaching staff view his role as a playmaking guard. With KCP and Kuzma already signed long term and Caruso and Horton-Tucker likely to added to the core next offseason, there’s not much playing time or cap space left to extend Dennis Schroder without a major trade.

If Talen Horton-Tucker continues to grow and develop over the next month, I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Lakers include Dennis Schroder in a major trade for a modern defensive center to upgrade the team’s rim protection. Whether that happens will depend on how well Talen and Dennis play but the Lakers’ need help at the center position and Talen Horton-Tucker is at some point going to become the team’s next starting point guard.