JJ Redick, the mathematically minded Lakers coach, knows the sample size is too small as the Lakers enter their third week of the season. Still, 27th in anything is probably at least a little concerning.
Through six games, that’s where Redick’s team ranks in defensive efficiency, a stunning statistic considering his team is anchored by one of the NBA’s premier defensive players, Anthony Davis.
“I think we can be a really good defensive team,” Redick said before Monday’s game against the Detroit Pistons. “I’m confident that if we get a bigger sample size, we won’t be 27th in the league.”
After the first half of game seven it was probably even worse.
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Forget that the Pistons had only won twice this season, that they were stuck in the mud during a rebuild with no real end in sight. Forget that they played in Brooklyn the day before, while the Lakers were enjoying time off after their win in Toronto.
From the moment Monday’s game started, the Lakers’ biggest problems — on the defensive end — were on the court.
The Lakers lost 115-103 to the Pistons, their first loss in Detroit since 2021, after allowing 67 points in the first half and failing to slow their opponent in almost every aspect of the game.
“We have to come into the game with a little more pride defensively,” Redick said after the loss.
Davis led the Lakers (4-3) with 37 points and nine rebounds. LeBron James added 20 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists. But the Lakers’ bench was outscored 27-10.
The pistons were more powerful on the glass. They were faster in transition. They were more aggressive towards the basket. And even though they were freezing, they were more willing to make three-point shots.
When asked where the defense failed early, Davis was blunt.
“Everywhere,” he said.
The early problems were severe enough to force the Lakers uphill for almost the entire game, a climb they were unable to make.
“I just don’t think we fought hard enough in the first half,” Austin Reaves said. “Anytime you drop around 20 at any point in the game, it’s hard to fight your way back.”
Redick tightened his rotation in the second half. Cam Reddish replaced Max Christie and rookie Dalton Knecht did not play after the second quarter.
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The Pistons (3-5) finished with 11 more shots, 18 rebounds, nine more second-chance points and six more points in the paint.
The loss to Detroit left the Lakers on a five-game losing streak.
“I have to be better on both ends of the floor. That’s it,” James said. “I think there are times when we are good. There are times when we’re not that good on either end of the floor. There are things we are still working out.”
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
