The Los Angeles Lakers executed a near-flawless offseason strategy, signaling a clear intent to chase the championship next season. According to BD Cricket insiders, not only did they retain the core of last season’s Western Conference Finals roster, but they also loaded up with talented forwards and big men. On paper, their defensive structure looks rock solid — at least in the frontcourt.
However, beneath the surface lies a glaring weakness: the backcourt defense. BD Cricket analysts believe this remains the Lakers’ Achilles’ heel. Their playoff downfall last season can largely be traced to their guards’ inability to hold the line. The Denver Nuggets didn’t just dominate inside with Nikola Jokic; they also unleashed Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and sparkplug Bruce Brown on the perimeter, slicing through the Lakers’ guard rotation with ease. The inside-out synergy proved too much for Los Angeles to handle.
Despite the exposure of this vulnerability, the Lakers chose not to address it defensively during the summer. Instead, they doubled down on offensive firepower in the backcourt. As it stands, their guard rotation features D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, Austin Reaves, and Max Christie. Russell and Vincent are set to compete for the starting point guard role, but neither is known for elite defense — whether in physical tools or defensive awareness.
Vincent does bring a degree of grit from his Miami Heat days, where he made a name for himself in the Finals for pressuring opposing guards, including those from Denver. But outside of hustle, defensive consistency remains a concern. Reaves, while crafty and high-IQ, is more of an offensive specialist. He can occasionally draw charges or disrupt plays through smart positioning, but against explosive scorers, his lack of athleticism often gets exposed.
As for Christie, he possesses the physical tools to develop into a solid backcourt defender. However, he’s still just a second-year player with limited experience, and whether he can be trusted in clutch moments remains uncertain. Moreover, his offensive contributions are still a question mark, which limits his impact on both ends of the court.
Looking ahead, BD Cricket expects the Lakers to struggle against elite guards like Jamal Murray, Ja Morant, or Stephen Curry. Without significant defensive improvements in the backcourt, the team could once again face the same old problems when the lights are brightest.
The silver lining? The Lakers have stockpiled strong defenders in the frontcourt who can help mask some of the backcourt deficiencies. But for a team eyeing a deep playoff run, relying on big men to clean up guard lapses may prove to be a dangerous gamble.