And those defensive deficiencies were on full display during the team's 126-114 loss to the Denver Nuggets on December 26.
With a starting backcourt edging closer to retirement and the shell of the player formerly known as Pau Gasol occupying one-half of the Lakers' interior, this isn't a club just suffering through some defensive lapses.
These woes will plague this club for the 2012-13 season's duration.
They rank 24th in points allowed per game, affording their opposition 100.6 points per game. Opposing clubs are connecting on 44.6 percent of their field-goal attempts (17th in the league).
There are other teams who struggle defensively but balance the challenge with a gambling mindset that translates into open looks and points off turnovers.
That isn't the case for these Lakers.
D'Antoni's team has forced just 13.7 turnovers per game (25th-fewest in the NBA). And it's cost them easy buckets, as they're scoring just 10.4 fast-break points per game (according to teamrankings.com).
With the top of the Western Conference standings overflowing with youthful, athletic clubs, the Lakers can't afford to keep playing to their age level.
It's something that superstar guard Kobe Bryant felt like the team did in that loss to the Nuggets:
Kobe on Lakers' loss: "Just seemed like we had a wheel stuck in the mud. We played old. They played with a lot of energy."
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) December 27, 2012
That lack of energetic play is something that has contributed to the team's 14-15 start.
When healthy and engaged, the Lakers can hang with (and defeat) any team in the NBA.
But they're trotting out four players at least 3...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
