The Los Angeles Lakers may have what appears to be a championship-caliber roster, especially when they’re at full strength, which they aren’t right now. But through six games this season, they’re playing well beneath their potential.
Their biggest problem has been their inability to control the defensive backboards. It was very evident in their 120-101 loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday. They were outrebounded, 51-40, and gave up 19 offensive rebounds and 36 second-chance points. Most of those second-chance points came in the first half when it became clear it wasn’t L.A.’s day.
Head coach Darvin Ham said after the game that his team’s problems on the boards simply come down to effort and activity.
"We just got to wipe ourselves off and get ready for another tough one in Miami." Darvin Ham discusses the Lakers lack of rebounding and energy in Orlando. pic.twitter.com/XdrLaCN5sM
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 5, 2023
“Just their (the Magic’s) effort, their energy,” said Ham when asked what he saw in the first quarter. “They’re down bodies, we’re down bodies, and so the game basically comes down to approach — mental approach. Their energy, their effort — they outworked us, and I think because of that energy and effort they saw the ball go in. … It’s a huge, huge step backwards for us in terms of our defensive rebounding. …
“You can’t scheme rebounding. You gotta want to get the damn ball — plain and simple. A shot goes up or somebody, your opponent, is in your area, you gotta get hits. Put bodies on bodies and be the most aggressive one to the ball. That’s it”
This is an area the Lakers need to rectify right now. They will play the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, a team that plays as hard as any in the NBA, on Monday, and an effort like the one they put forth on Saturday will result in another rout.
