Is the Lakers Defense Playoff Ready?
Laker Film Room - Dedicated to the Study of Lakers Basketball
Pete Zayas
4.8 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 2 April 2026
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
A talented Cavs team looked to be a late season test for a defense that was missing its best player, but the Lakers locked down Cleveland to start the 2Q and never looked back. The guys discuss how the changing coverages of that game were a microcosm of the team’s defense this season, and whether or not the Lakers can sustain level of play into the postseason.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | What do you think about the Laker team now? |
| 0:03.0 | You follow the box scores of the games every day? |
| 0:06.0 | Just the Lakers. |
| 0:07.0 | You're kidding. |
| 0:08.0 | That is really a compliment. |
| 0:10.0 | I was pleased to see you smile at the top part show because once the game starts, you have a game face. |
| 0:17.0 | You don't smile much out there. |
| 0:20.0 | I don't think you have to do things for money anymore. Correct. What's up, Laker fans? Welcome to the Laker Film Room podcast. I'm Pete, joined by Darius, and it's good to be back. And I know it was a couple of days ago, but I didn't get my chance to share my excitement about that Cleveland game. D. We talked about this upcoming stretch being a measuring stick of sorts for |
| 0:38.7 | the Lakers. And Cleveland would challenge the Lakers in a different way than, say, O KC or Phoenix |
| 0:44.3 | would on the defensive end, that the challenge against Cleveland would be more on the defensive end |
| 0:50.7 | for the Lakers. You've got Mitchell and Harden, Max Struces back, the two Biggs |
| 0:55.3 | and Mowbly and Allen, very talented offensive group, exacerbated by the fact that Marcus Smart |
| 1:00.4 | is still out, which is something we'll talk about as we talk about this OKC game the Lakers |
| 1:04.1 | have tonight. But prior to the game, it was like, look, this is going to be a real test |
| 1:08.8 | for the Lakers defense. And after a first |
| 1:11.4 | quarter, that I think was 34, 32 in favor of the cabs, Lakers switched to their switching coverage, |
| 1:17.4 | their 15 coverage, and really took control of the game. Jared Allen got a few buckets, but |
| 1:22.3 | they really limited Donovan Mitchell, held the cabs, I believe, under 50 or right around 50 |
| 1:27.3 | in that first half, and opened the game up there. And by the end of the cabs, I believe, under 50 or right around 50 in that first half and opened the game up there. |
| 1:30.0 | And by the end of the third quarter, it was a laffer. |
| 1:33.1 | It was a blowout in the Lakers favor. |
| 1:35.0 | In a game that came after three games against the bottom dwellers of the league, going against a team that can really challenge your speed, I thought was a tough combo. |
... |
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