Are the Lakers a Good Defensive Team?

[Mr October]

Their length is a problem that we will overcome.  Artest has always played PP well and has had his number a few times.

Back in his Indiana days, Artest was an absolute defensive terror. The was the anti-Paul Pierce. Over the years Ron has lost a bunch of speed and Paul has more or less figured him out.

The only guy I worry about stopping Paul is Lebron James.

[MBunge]

The Lakers are clearly a good defensive team but I think that's largely due to individual size (Pau and Bynum) and individual commitment (Kobe and Artest).  I do not think the Lakers have the sort of team defense that the Celts have that would allow them to overcome mismatches.  They've made a real effort to contain the unathletic Nash, but I doubt they could do the same to Rondo.

Mike

[housecall]

They are an average to good defensive team,and if they can't stop you one way,they will play bully ball another(in instances).Fisher,Kobe,and the freak(Sasha) from the bench will go overboard with hard fouls when they are in trouble.

[misha]

Mediocre in the playoffs games that I watched.

[Mr October]

The Lakers are clearly a good defensive team but I think that's largely due to individual size (Pau and Bynum) and individual commitment (Kobe and Artest).  I do not think the Lakers have the sort of team defense that the Celts have that would allow them to overcome mismatches.  They've made a real effort to contain the unathletic Nash, but I doubt they could do the same to Rondo.

Mike

The Celtic defense is on a level all its own. The rotations are near flawless! I have never seen  team defense this great, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

[angryguy77]

Seems like Laker fans are a little unhappy with glass body. Reading some of the comments at SS&R, they are glad he's being benched. And here I thought he was their saviour

[Eddie20]

We can throw out regular season defensive numbers regarding the Lakers with Bynum clearly a shell of himself. Bynum's ability to control the defensive glass and shotlocking changes the complexion of their entire defense.

I've seen the Lakers struggle with ball movement and defensive rotations during these playoffs. Not surprisingly, they've given up over 100 pts. in 7 out of 13 games. And in 4 out of the 6 games they didn't allow 100 pts. they gave up over 90.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Lakers are not that good defensively, but their length can bother teams. So, I'm more wary of our carelessness than their defensive prowess.

[Fafnir]

They Lakers are an excellent defensive team.

Two superb wing defenders and three long 6-10 to 7-0 patrolling the paint.

When Bynum is playing well defensively they truly are something to watch on that end of the floor.

Is this sarcasm?

No, the Lakers are an excellent defensive team.

I'd go with "good".  I think "excellent" means 2008 Celtics, or at least top-two in the league.  The Lakers aren't in that category.  They're a top-four to top-six defense, but no better than that.

The problem with the Lakers is that they don't always show 100% defensive commitment, which is what you're seeing in the Suns series.  When they clamp down, though, they're at least as good as Cleveland or Orlando, but not as good as the Celts.

I agree with you Roy. The Lakers are very good on defense - top 5. However they don't bring the same level of defensive intensity that Boston, Cleveland or even Miami brings.

They do have excellent defensive talents though.

[Brendan]

I think they are a good D team, but the sum is less than their parts, perhaps because some of their guys have reputations above what they deserve. I do think they have the ability to matchup well with teams with a variety of guys who can guard a variety of guys (if that makes sense.)

I don't see how they guard KG if he decides to score, like he did against CLE. And I think they showed last night that Odom and Bynum will get in Foul Trouble if challenged. Gasoft still looks disinterested in D IMO.

[xmuscularghandix]

The Lakers are clearly a good defensive team but I think that's largely due to individual size (Pau and Bynum) and individual commitment (Kobe and Artest).  I do not think the Lakers have the sort of team defense that the Celts have that would allow them to overcome mismatches.  They've made a real effort to contain the unathletic Nash, but I doubt they could do the same to Rondo.

Mike

Exactly, they have good individual defenders at 4 of their 5 starting spots, the weakness being Fisher. And i think that once Rondo drives past him it'll destroy everything. The Lakers bigs will help only to either get in foul trouble, or shrink to allow open shots for Ray and Paul.

[LB3533]

Dragic can get to the rim...

[Prof. Clutch]

Yes they are a good defensive team, but they're an even better offensive team.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

The Lakers are a good defensive team. They are tall, mobile, and experienced...It won't be a walk in the park......Kobe is hotter than ever, who will shut him down..? The other side is, Perk CAN guard Bynum, Sheed or KG can guard Gasol, Rondo can guard fisher, TA can cover Kobe..PP might get into foul trouble on Kobe..TA is reaaly the only guy who can guard Kobe, or maybe MD.....Ray needs to be the X.....get free from Artest...an extremely physical hacker who gets away with a lot of extra touches on his man...as for them guarding us..well, we have the advantage there.....Their X man will be Odom...and if we will stay close to them...sometimes we let our guys drift...the Lakers can shoot better than the Magic, and have a better inside game, Brown, and some other guy..i forgot his name on the lakers..but he is skying to the rim on the follows...the C's used to let those guys go free from the top......We can beat them...if we stay on them...and hit our shots, rebound, and go hard to the hole...! Like we been doing...!

[Mr October]

They Lakers are an excellent defensive team.

Two superb wing defenders and three long 6-10 to 7-0 patrolling the paint.

When Bynum is playing well defensively they truly are something to watch on that end of the floor.

Is this sarcasm?

No, the Lakers are an excellent defensive team.

I'd go with "good".  I think "excellent" means 2008 Celtics, or at least top-two in the league.  The Lakers aren't in that category.  They're a top-four to top-six defense, but no better than that.

The problem with the Lakers is that they don't always show 100% defensive commitment, which is what you're seeing in the Suns series.  When they clamp down, though, they're at least as good as Cleveland or Orlando, but not as good as the Celts.

I agree with you Roy. The Lakers are very good on defense - top 5. However they don't bring the same level of defensive intensity that Boston, Cleveland or even Miami brings.

They do have excellent defensive talents though.

hence they are a top 5 defensive team. Nice long parts. But collectively, the intensity doesn't match BOS or CLE.