Throughout this season, it has been difficult to determine what to make of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Purple and Gold’s standing in the Western Conference has fluctuated between second and sixth place. Questions have also arisen as to whether they could defeat quality opponents.
At the beginning of March, the Lakers were sixth in the West and had a record of 12-17 against teams over .500. Three weeks later, they are 9-1 this month and are on a seven-game winning streak.
The Purple and Gold’s hot streak this month has propelled them into third place. Their 5-1 record against teams above .500 has proved that they can compete with the NBA’s best.
Some may wonder what has fueled such a strong month, and the answer lies on the defensive end of the floor.
Defense has been an area of concern for the Purple and Gold for most of the season. Their opponents average 114.9 points per game, while the Lakers’ point differential is hovering around plus-1.5 — an indicator of how narrow their margin for error has been.
The Lakers have shown a new defensive intensity this month, particularly in the turnover battle.
In their last 10 games, the Lakers have had a positive turnover margin seven times and have forced 10 or more steals in six games. This has directly helped the offense, with the Lakers outscoring opponents 228-159 in points off turnovers. While this level of productivity may not remain consistent, the Lakers don’t need to be an elite defensive team to win. This month, they have won all three games in which they lost the turnover battle.
If the Lakers can force their opponents into mistakes and keep the turnover differential manageable, the offensive efforts of Luka Doncic, Lebron James and Austin Reaves should be enough to help bridge the gap when the defense falls short.
This approach appears to be working. The Lakers have defeated four playoff teams during this 10-game stretch, including back-to-back victories over the Houston Rockets and a thrilling last-second win over the Denver Nuggets. It is also worth noting that the wins over the New York Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves came without LeBron James.
Although it is a small sample, March may be an indicator that the Purple and Gold’s newfound style of play could position them for a deep playoff run.