Dogsh*t is never how you want to hear your transition defense described. Unfortunately for the Los Angeles Lakers, that is exactly what JJ Redick thought of it through their first two contests of the NBA preseason. The problem is: this isn't something new for the Lakers.
Jovan Buha touched on the matter during a recent episode of his podcast. The host of Buha's Block pointed out the persistent pattern that has plagued the Lakers over the years in transition.
Buha said, "I was very critical of the [transition] defense. ... That is a big point of emphasis for the Lakers this week, as I think it should be. JJ mentioned the conditioning element that the Lakers are not where they need to be. ... I expect there to be also more of an emphasis on that."
The wild part about all of this is that these issues predate even the LeBron James era in Los Angeles. Buha pointed out the last time the Lakers were an average or better group in that category was 2010-11. The late, great Kobe Bryant was still donning purple and gold back then.
Lakers keep getting burned the same way — and it needs to be fixed
The good news, for those keeping track, is that would mean the Lakers have been able to overcome this flaw to win a championship in 2020. They ranked 30th in 2019-20 with 16.5 opponent fastbreak points during the regular season.
How did they manage to win a title in spite of that? Well, they didn't. They actually cleaned up the category for the 2020 NBA Playoffs, leading the postseason in only surrendering 8.4 opponent fastbreak points.
If there is one thing abundantly clear from last year's postseason: the transition game matters mightily. The Lakers will be doomed if they cannot address their problems.
Who were the two teams in the 2025 NBA Finals? The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. What notable statistics stand out about both of them? They were both very strong in the transition game.
The Thunder, who won the title, were second in the postseason last year with 15.5 fastbreak points. Likewise, they surrendered the second fewest buckets of that same nature with only 10.2 opponent fastbreak points.
The Pacers were similarly brilliant. They placed fourth in the 2025 NBA Playoffs with 14.6 fastbreak points of their own. Meanwhile, they allowed the smallest number of opponent fastbreak points with only 9.7.
One other thing that would be notable here is where these teams ranked in pace during the last postseason. The Thunder were second, and the Pacers were third.
The mantra of the 2025-26 Lakers pic.twitter.com/JtKSQNlvfq
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) October 8, 2025
The Lakers are trying to tell anyone that will listen about how they are trying to develop the right habits, communication, and shape to pursue a championship in 2025-26. Banner 18 does not get lifted in Los Angeles without overcoming this devastating downside.