Lakers, Warriors are headed in different directions

The Lakers’ 115-113 win over the Warriors on Christmas was a wake-up call for Golden State. The Warriors needed two near-impossible three-pointers from Stephen Curry in the game’s dying moments — a shoulder-sling from the corner with LeBron James plastered all over him and a logo shot from 38 feet — to make the contest close. 

Ultimately, Austin Reaves’ game-sealing layup secured victory for Los Angeles, but the more significant takeaway was the diverging trajectories of these two teams. 

After a disappointing mid-December road trip that saw the Lakers go 1-3, including blowout losses to the Timberwolves and Heat, the team appeared to be in freefall. However, L.A. has since reversed course, winning five of its last seven games. This resurgence has been highlighted by an impressive back-to-back road sweep of the Kings, a statement win against the surging Grizzlies and the aforementioned Christmas Day triumph over the Warriors.

The Lakers’ revival can largely be attributed to their improved defense. Despite facing several of the league’s top offensive teams, L.A. has climbed to 14th in defensive rating over its last 10 contests — a significant leap from its struggles in October and November, when it ranked among the association’s worst defensive squads.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick recently inserted 21-year-old wing Max Christie into the starting lineup, which has paid immediate dividends. Since the change, L.A. has looked like a different team, with Christie providing the lockdown perimeter defense it lacked when Dalton Knecht or D’Angelo Russell were starting. 

His presence has energized the entire squad on the less glamorous end, with the Lakers showing a renewed commitment to closing out on shooters, fighting through screens and bringing a more physical, scrappy edge to their play.

The Lakers currently sit at 17-13, holding sixth place in the stacked Western Conference, despite facing significant injury setbacks. Defensive ace Jarred Vanderbilt and versatile big man Christian Wood have yet to suit up for a single game this season, while backup center Jaxson Hayes has missed extended time with an ankle sprain. 

Just weeks ago, the Lakers were mired in negative headlines, with doubts swirling about their playoff chances. Now, they appear like a top squad ready to hit another gear once their roster is fully healthy.

Meanwhile, after a hot 12-3 start, the Warriors have stumbled, going just 3-11 over their last 14 games — one of the worst records in the league during that span. In stark contrast to the Lakers, Golden State’s once-stifling defense has unraveled. After beginning the season as one of the NBA’s top defensive teams, it now ranks in the bottom 10 in defensive rating during their previous 14 games (114.9 DEFRTG). 

Early in the year, the Warriors thrived by utilizing the league’s deepest rotation, unleashing waves of defenders to apply outside pressure and disrupt opposing offenses. However, teams have since figured out that the key to breaking down Golden State’s defense is attacking the perimeter with a hard screen or isolating defenders one-on-one. Once the Warriors get into the paint, they lack rim protection, especially when starting center Trayce Jackson-Davis, who averages just 17.8 minutes per game, is on the bench.

With little shot blocking, the Warriors have been forced to double-team on drives to the paint, leaving opponents with open looks from beyond the arc. As a result, Golden State has allowed 19.6 wide-open three-point attempts per game (no defender within six feet) over its last 14 games, one of the worst marks in the league. This vulnerability was on full display on Christmas, as James and Reaves repeatedly broke down the defense, each finishing with 10 assists as they found open shooters for wide-open threes.

The Warriors recently acquired Dennis Schroder, but he isn’t the solution to their defensive woes. If Golden State hopes to make a serious postseason push, it may need to make a significant move before the trade deadline to land a player capable of providing much-needed rim protection and backline defense.