How Teams Can Easily Expose the Lakers Obvious Flaws
The Los Angeles Lakers still command attention because of the sheer star power they put on the floor every night. With a big three of LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves, the Lakers can overwhelm defenses with shot creation, playmaking, and scoring versatility. Few teams can match that level of offensive talent in the half-court, mainly when James is orchestrating, and Dončić is controlling the tempo. On paper, this trio gives the Lakers a chance in any game, regardless of the matchup. However, star power alone cannot mask structural weaknesses, and those weaknesses were clearly exposed in their most recent game against the San Antonio Spurs.
Against the Spurs, the Lakers were thoroughly exposed in ways that other teams can easily replicate. San Antonio pushed the pace relentlessly, getting out in transition at every opportunity and forcing the Lakers to defend in space. Young, fast guards like Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox consistently blew past the Lakers’ defenders, creating easy scoring chances before the defense could even get set. The Lakers simply could not keep up, and it wasn’t just a one-on-one issue; it was a roster-wide problem. Their lack of speed and defensive resistance allowed the Spurs to get whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted.
Defensively, the Lakers’ issues go far beyond one stormy night. The big three, along with much of the roster, are clear liabilities on that end of the floor, struggling with lateral quickness, rotations, and transition defense. They are extremely slow compared to the league’s younger, more athletic teams, and opponents know it. Once a team forces a missed shot or turnover, the Lakers often cannot recover, leading to easy leak-out baskets and momentum-swinging runs. This puts enormous pressure on their half-court defense, which is already shaky, and magnifies every mistake they make.
This problem mirrors what we have seen from teams like the Clippers in recent seasons, where aging stars and limited defensive versatility get exposed by speed and depth. The difference is that the Lakers have more offensive firepower, which can keep them competitive for stretches. Still, that firepower becomes less effective when the game turns into a track meet. When opponents push the pace, the Lakers are forced into playing perfect basketball in the half-court just to stay even. That margin for error is razor-thin, especially against disciplined playoff teams.
As the playoffs approach, the pressure on the Lakers will only increase. If they do not add defensive-minded, athletic pieces or make drastic adjustments to their strategy, more teams will follow the Spurs’ blueprint. Opponents will continue to run, attack early, and exploit the Lakers’ lack of speed and depth. This forces the Lakers’ half-court offense to be flawless, hitting open shots consistently and avoiding turnovers that lead to easy transition points. Without meaningful changes, the Lakers’ obvious flaws will remain easy to expose, and their championship aspirations will rest on an offense that has to be nearly perfect every night.
