The Los Angeles Lakers have endured a roller coaster in the second half of the season. At times, they lose their way and pile up significant defeats, though on other occasions, they catch fire and the victories arrive in bunches.
This is the case now, as the Los Angeles squad has strung together three consecutive wins that provide much-needed breathing room inside the locker room. This past Tuesday, March 3, 2026, when they faced the New Orleans Pelicans, the matchup was physical and demanding, but the triumph came, 110-101.
One element clearly noticeable within the team is that they have managed to make considerable defensive adjustments; in this area, they had been widely criticized because their stars were not giving maximum effort.
Now that appears to have taken a meaningful turn for the better for the quintet. They have climbed to the 22nd spot in the defensive ranking and sit 26th in opponent field goal percentage at .484 through 61 contests.
But this is where the shift becomes evident, as over these last three games, each of them strong performances, they have surged to fifth place, holding opponents to 102.0 points per 100 possessions.
The Lakers’ significant changes are reflected by LeBron James
For the franchise’s marquee star, this significant shift is a very positive development. JJ Redick has implemented modifications that have become visible on the hardwood and have yielded solid dividends.
On this particular note, LeBron James did not miss the opportunity to make clear that things are improving and continue on an upward trajectory.
I think so.”…”I think we’ve made some strides defensively. We didn’t play much at all in zone tonight. We started the game out with it, we kind of went away from it. I thought the man-to-man defense was pretty good. Jaxson [Hayes] and Marcus [Smart] were great on that end and then everybody else trickled in as well.
James said if the Lakers defense has truly improved, via LakersNation.
It now seems that James and company could be headed for a stronger finish to the season, or at least that is the perception. The adjustments introduced by Redick are beginning to show with greater precision on the court, and that injects excitement into the entire fan base.
Although many argue that the victories have not come against the league’s true powerhouses, this diminishes their significance.
- Golden State Warrior
- Sacramento Kings
- New Orleans Pelicans
These are the franchises from which they have claimed victories, and for some analysts, they do not reflect a defining moment, something that could change should they manage to defeat the league’s current contenders.
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