How Warriors’ switching defense gave Lakers problems
The Lakers lost to the Warriors on Thursday, struggling to solve their switching defense led by Draymond Green.
Every Lakers-Warriors game gets national attention, but Thursday’s showdown was a must-win for both teams when considering the playoff-seeding implications.
The Lakers made a comeback in the fourth quarter, led by Austin Reaves, who scored 20 points in the final frame but ultimately fell 123-116.
With both teams so close to each other in the standings, this potential matchup preview revealed additional notes for the Lakers to consider for their postseason run. A switch-everything defense, led by Draymond Green, posed specific challenges that must be addressed.
The team opened the first quarter by shooting 9-28 and 4-16 from three. Golden State sank its teeth in defensively, allowing only two points in the final 5:16. This bled into the second quarter, as Brandin Podziemski banked in one of his eight threes at the buzzer to give Golden State a 13-point halftime lead.
Los Angeles' offense largely depends on matchup hunting, which entails putting a specific player into action to create a perceived mismatch on the ball. While these actions can be effective, they encourage a one-on-one style that may stagnate the offense against teams with high-IQ switchable defensive personnel.
The Warriors, with Jimmy Butler and Green, fit the bill.
For example, watch below as the Lakers get the switch of Curry on LeBron.
LeBron catches the ball at the top of the key with every defender focused on him. Reaves and Dončić are parked in the corner and wing, respectively.
There is no motion, action, or cuts to force the defense to move. The Warriors have help ready at both nails, with Green patrolling the rim. A difficult contested jab-step three results from this.
LeBron can make this shot, and the Warriors would gladly take it every time down the court.
Another tactic for switch hunting is to attack from the post.
In the clip below, LeBron gets the switch against Podziemski. Notice the positioning of all the help defenders. The opposite big man, Quinten Post, is stationed in the paint. Butler slides down to intercept the corner pass, prepared to recover on the opposite wing.
LeBron holds the ball for 14 seconds before resorting to a turnaround left-handed hook shot. Once more, there is no movement or off-ball screening to create any defensive indecision.
In the second quarter, the controller is handed to Luka Dončić. In the clip below, as he likes to do, he hunts the opposite big man. Kevon Looney accepts the switch and helps force a tough, leaning shot. LeBron spectates following the screen, with Reaves parked in the weak side corner.
Dončić shot just 6-17 for 19 points, including 0-6 from downtown. His first game without a 3-point make since April 7th, 2023. For the Warriors, a two-point contested floater by Luka is another shot they will happily live with.
All three of Reaves, LeBron, and Dončić took their turns at the wheel in the first half. The offense eventually picked up following the break, but it was too little, too late.
The Lakers never led or threatened, as they were kept at bay with a double-digit deficit for most of the second half.
This style of hunting mismatches has a ceiling against top-tier defensive teams. Even with great individual talents, intentionality in the offense and skill blending are necessary to win in the playoffs.
Finding solutions and counters to these defenses will be crucial for how far the Lakers advance, and they are running out of time. Next, on Friday, they face a shorthanded Pelicans team with a chance to return to the win column.