The Los Angeles Lakers are not yet the defensive juggernaut they aspire to be, but early season statistics suggest a strong foundation for improvement. As of Friday, the team ranked 16th in defensive rating, according to Cleaning The Glass, a metric that excludes garbage time.
However, a standout performance in forcing turnovers offers a significant reason for optimism. The Lakers entered their 10th game of the season second in the league in defensive turnover percentage, converting 18.8% of opponents' possessions into turnovers, trailing only the Toronto Raptors. This aggressive approach has been a consistent theme, with the Lakers forcing at least 14 turnovers in every game this season, including 16 or more in seven of their first nine contests.
This ability to create turnovers has directly fueled their offense, as the Lakers lead the NBA in points scored off turnovers, averaging 23.4 per game. "It shows that we have a lot of potential," stated starting center Walker Kessler. "A couple of things we gotta clean up, but it shows that we’re willing to be aggressive and turn guys over, especially in the half court."
Guard Austin Reaves highlighted the team's defensive talent and adherence to schemes, naming players like Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Jake LaRavia, and Quentin Grimes as key contributors. Coach JJ Redick emphasized the importance of this disciplined aggression. "We want to disrupt, but we want to disrupt within our schemes," Redick explained. "So, you can be a defensive playmaker by doing our defense versus gambling — there’s a big difference."
While forcing turnovers is not the sole determinant of a strong defense, it has historically correlated with success. Six of the top 12 defensive teams in the league last season also ranked in the top 12 for defensive turnover percentage, a trend that held true for seven of the top 12 teams the year prior.
The Lakers acknowledge areas needing improvement, such as defensive rebounding, particularly when Kessler is off the floor, and reducing their own turnovers. Nevertheless, their proficiency in forcing turnovers has emerged as a notable positive aspect early in the season.