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#3 For the Lakers, everything stems from clampdown defense
Carrying a top 5 defensive rating (103.2) at the moment, the purple and gold have been contesting shots at an impressive rate this year along and leading the league with 7.1 blocks per game. With quality rim protectors like Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, and JaVale McGee, they have proven to be arguably the hardest team to score on in the paint. Moreover, their team average of 8.8 steals per matchup is currently the third-best in the NBA.
They are closing in on open jumpers, altering shots at the rim, interfering passes at the perimeter, all of this while their marquee defender, Avery Bradley, is sidelined with a right leg issue. One of the welcome sights has been Alex Caruso's cramping full-court defense down the stretch as well.
LA's commitment to securing the boards and double-teaming players led to them restricting Denver and Utah to under 100 points on back-to-back nights. This team is gifted offensively, but their grit on the defensive end is scary for the rest of the league.
Guess the Lakers players!
