The Los Angeles Lakers have clearly cemented themselves as one of the top teams in the Western Conference this season. But while it's apparent that there's a gap between the Lake Show and the majority of the West, it's also becoming increasingly obvious that this team needs a stronger overall defensive presence in order for it to become a team truly worthy of a championship.
Over the course of the summer, the Lakers made additions that served to upgrade their process on both sides of the ball. Bringing in Marcus Smart was certainly a strong move when it came to adding point of attack defenders that could take a load off Luka Doncic, but Smart alone isn't enough to offset the rest of LA's defensive deficiencies.
If you look at the totality of this roster, the Lakers are a [much more offensive-minded team](https://lakeshowlife.com/luka-doncic-austin-reaves-answered-vital-question-without-lebron-james). That's fine for the regular season, and it's a great strategy when number 77 is leading things. He's going to make everyone around him better, and raise the ceiling of any team when it comes to putting up points on the scoreboard. But when the postseason comes around, Lakers fans have greater peace of mind that this team is going to be able to survive without its defense tanking.
The Lakers' defense needs an upgrade
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There are just too many holes on the defensive side of things right now for Laker Nation to feel comfortable long term. LA is sitting in the middle of the pack when it comes to defensive rating (currently ranked 16th as of this writing). What Rob Pelinka and the front office need to do is keep their eyes peeled for more two-way players around the league that might become available and could be acquired ahead of the trade deadline.
The good news is that the Lakers have time to address this. The offense is humming, the chemistry around Luka is growing, and [Smart has already helped](https://lakeshowlife.com/marcus-smart-proving-lakers-played-long-game-perfectly) stabilize the guard rotation. But if Los Angeles wants to move from being just another dangerous team to truly being championship material, they need more size, versatility, and physicality on the perimeter and in the frontcourt.
Teams in the West are too talented to try and outscore three straight rounds without reliable stops. The foundation is in place with this team, but the Lakers will ultimately rise or fall based on whether they can close the defensive gap before the postseason arrives.