Lakers vs Pistons Preview: Injury Report, TV Stream, How To Watch – Silver Screen and Roll https://t.co/ltD0r9ZR1J
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) December 23, 2024
Lakers vs Pistons Preview
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December 23, 2024 1 Comment
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From above article:
The Lakers’ back-to-back victories against the Sacramento Kings last week are easily one of their best so far this season. Not only did they secure the season series against a Pacific Division foe but they did so by putting together arguably their best defensive stretch of the year.
The purple and gold have been playing superb defense over the last four games, which is why it’s not a coincidence that they’re currently enjoying a three-game winning streak. Over the last four games, they’ve had the league’s best defense, allowing just 99.2 points per 100 possessions. They’ve limited their opponents to 30% 3-point shooting and 41% field goal percentage in that span.
To give context on how impressive Los Angeles’ defense was specifically against the Kings: Sacramento entered the last two games with the league’s fifth-best offensive rating and, after just scoring 199 points across those two losses to L.A., Sacramento has dropped to seventh.
Same with the Memphis Grizzlies who entered last week’s play date versus the Lakers averaging the most points scored per game (122.6) and with the league’s fourth best offensive rating (116.9) only for the Lakers to limit them to 110 points.
Suffice it to say that the Lakers’ defense has surged, but the question remains whether or not they can keep it up. If they indeed do, then this type of defense significantly increases their ceiling. The team’s defensive anchor, Anthony Davis, perfectly summarized why the team has improved on this side of the court as of late:
“Everything that we’re doing defensively, we’ve been physical, we’re talking, we’re communicating, we’re covering for one another,” Davis said. “We’re rebounding. Our coverage is on point. So we’re just flying around doing everything, being gritty, playing desperate on the defensive end.”
LeBron James, who has also visibly put more effort on defense over the last three games, also chimed in on what the Lakers have been doing well as of late: