The Lakers’ 115-113 win over the Warriors on Christmas was a wake-up name for Golden State. The Warriors wanted two near-impossible three-pointers from Stephen Curry within the sport’s dying moments — a shoulder-sling from the nook with LeBron James plastered throughout him and a brand shot from 38 ft — to make the competition shut.
In the end, Austin Reaves’ game-sealing layup secured victory for Los Angeles, however the extra important takeaway was the diverging trajectories of those two groups.
After a disappointing mid-December street journey that noticed the Lakers go 1-3, together with blowout losses to the Timberwolves and Warmth, the workforce seemed to be in freefall. Nevertheless, L.A. has since reversed course, successful 5 of its final seven video games. This resurgence has been highlighted by a powerful back-to-back street sweep of the Kings, a press release win in opposition to the surging Grizzlies and the aforementioned Christmas Day overcome the Warriors.
The Lakers’ revival can largely be attributed to their improved protection. Regardless of dealing with a number of of the league’s high offensive groups, L.A. has climbed to 14th in defensive rating over its final 10 contests — a big leap from its struggles in October and November, when it ranked among the many affiliation’s worst defensive squads.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick lately inserted 21-year-old wing Max Christie into the beginning lineup, which has paid instant dividends. For the reason that change, L.A. has appeared like a distinct workforce, with Christie offering the lockdown perimeter protection it lacked when Dalton Knecht or D’Angelo Russell had been beginning.
His presence has energized all the squad on the much less glamorous finish, with the Lakers displaying a renewed dedication to closing out on shooters, combating via screens and bringing a extra bodily, scrappy edge to their play.
The Lakers at the moment sit at 17-13, holding sixth place within the stacked Western Convention, regardless of dealing with important damage setbacks. Defensive ace Jarred Vanderbilt and versatile huge man Christian Wooden have but to swimsuit up for a single sport this season, whereas backup heart Jaxson Hayes has missed prolonged time with an ankle sprain.
Simply weeks in the past, the Lakers had been mired in unfavourable headlines, with doubts swirling about their playoff possibilities. Now, they seem like a high squad able to hit one other gear as soon as their roster is totally wholesome.
In the meantime, after a sizzling 12-3 begin, the Warriors have stumbled, going simply 3-11 over their final 14 video games — one of many worst information within the league throughout that span. In stark distinction to the Lakers, Golden State’s once-stifling protection has unraveled. After starting the season as one of many NBA’s high defensive groups, it now ranks within the bottom 10 in defensive rating throughout their earlier 14 video games (114.9 DEFRTG).
Early within the yr, the Warriors thrived by using the league’s deepest rotation, unleashing waves of defenders to use exterior stress and disrupt opposing offenses. Nevertheless, groups have since discovered that the important thing to breaking down Golden State’s protection is attacking the perimeter with a tough display screen or isolating defenders one-on-one. As soon as the Warriors get into the paint, they lack rim safety, particularly when beginning heart Trayce Jackson-Davis, who averages simply 17.8 minutes per sport, is on the bench.
With little shot blocking, the Warriors have been pressured to double-team on drives to the paint, leaving opponents with open seems to be from past the arc. In consequence, Golden State has allowed 19.6 wide-open three-point attempts per game (no defender inside six ft) over its final 14 video games, one of many worst marks within the league. This vulnerability was on full show on Christmas, as James and Reaves repeatedly broke down the protection, every ending with 10 assists as they discovered open shooters for wide-open threes.
The Warriors lately acquired Dennis Schroder, however he isn’t the answer to their defensive woes. If Golden State hopes to make a critical postseason push, it might must make a big transfer earlier than the commerce deadline to land a participant able to offering much-needed rim safety and backline protection.
