Lakers’ defensive buy-in propelled them to second round of NBA playoffs
The Lakers advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs after defeating the Rockets in Game 6 of their first-round series. Their defensive improvement, sparked by a shift to zone defense in January, played a crucial role in the victory. Players and coaches credited increased communication and team-wide buy-in for the turnaround.
- ▪The Lakers ranked 26th in defensive rating midway through the regular season before improving to 12th over their final 42 games.
- ▪Their defensive transformation began during a January 18 win over the Raptors when they started using more zone defense.
- ▪Deandre Ayton led the Lakers with 7.3 defensive rebounds per game and effectively contained Rockets' All-Star center Alperen Sengun.
- ▪Marcus Smart and LeBron James provided leadership and set the tone for the team's defensive effort.
- ▪Coach JJ Redick emphasized that buy-in from star players made defensive execution and accountability easier across the roster.
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NBA Lakers’ defensive buy-in propelled them to second round of NBA playoffs By Khobi Price Published May 3, 2026, 8:00 a.m. ET HOUSTON — Austin Reaves couldn’t pinpoint exactly when it happened. But he remembered what sparked the Lakers’ defensive turnaround, which has carried over for 3 ½ months, through their first-round playoff series victory over the Rockets, which ended with Friday’s 98-78 Game 6 victory at Toyota Center. The Lakers’ Deandre Ayton (5) and his teammates stymied the Rockets with their defensive intensity. NBAE via Getty Images Nearly midway through the regular season, the Lakers ranked 26th in defensive rating, performing even worse on the less glamorous end of the floor than even their biggest detractors expected entering the season.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at New York Post.
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