The Los Angeles Lakers are in a weird spot. Honestly, that’s putting it lightly. If you’ve been watching the lakers last five games, you’ve seen a team that looks like a title contender on Tuesday and a lottery team by Thursday. It’s frustrating. It's confusing. And for fans at Crypto.com Arena, it’s becoming a bit of a pattern.
LeBron James is still defying father time, sure. But even with the King putting up numbers, the cracks in the foundation are getting wider. We’re talking about a 1-4 stretch that has exposed some pretty ugly truths about this roster's depth and defensive discipline.
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Breaking Down the Lakers Last Five Games
Let's look at the actual tape. The stretch started with a flicker of hope before sliding into a defensive abyss.
- Jan 17 at Portland: A 132-116 loss that felt worse than the score suggests. No Luka Doncic (groin) meant the offense lacked its primary engine, but giving up 132 to the Blazers? That’s a choice. Shaedon Sharpe had his way with the perimeter defense, and Marcus Smart limping off in the fourth quarter just added injury to insult.
- Jan 15 vs Charlotte: This was the "rock bottom" game for many. Losing 135-117 at home to the Hornets is unacceptable for a team with playoff aspirations. Even with Luka dropping 39, the Lakers let Charlotte shoot the lights out.
- Jan 13 vs Atlanta: The lone bright spot. A 141-116 blowout win where everything clicked. LeBron and Luka combined for 20 assists, and the ball movement was beautiful. It showed what this team could be, which almost makes the other losses more annoying.
- Jan 12 at Sacramento: A 124-112 defeat on the road. The Kings’ pace simply gassed the Lakers' older wings. When the game slowed down, LA stayed competitive, but once Sacramento started running, it was over.
- Jan 9 vs Milwaukee: A narrow 105-101 loss. This one was actually a decent defensive showing, but the offense stalled in the final three minutes. Missing open looks in crunch time has been a recurring nightmare lately.
The Luka Doncic and LeBron James Dynamic
It’s wild to think we’re seeing Luka and LeBron on the same floor in purple and gold. On paper, it's a dream. In reality, during the lakers last five games, the defensive fit has been... questionable. Luka is averaging roughly 33.3 points per game this season, leading the league, but the team's defensive rating is hovering near the bottom of the NBA (26th overall).
You can’t win at a high level when you’re trading buckets.
JJ Redick has his work cut out for him. He’s trying to implement a high-motion offense, which worked perfectly against Atlanta, but the consistency isn't there. When Austin Reaves went down with a calf injury, the secondary playmaking vanished. Suddenly, if LeBron or Luka isn't making a play, nobody is.
The Defensive Disconnect
Why is the defense so bad? It’s not just effort. It’s personnel.
Deandre Ayton being in and out of the lineup with knee soreness has left the paint unprotected. In the Portland game, the Blazers lived in the restricted area. Without a vertical threat to contest shots, the Lakers' guards are playing on their heels, terrified of getting blown by because they know there’s no help waiting at the rim.
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The stats from the lakers last five games show opponents are averaging over 122 points against them. You aren't winning many games in the Western Conference with that kind of "defense." It’s basically a layup line at times.
Key Stats From This Stretch
- Record: 1-4
- Points Allowed per Game: 122.6
- Luka Doncic Status: Day-to-day (Groin)
- Marcus Smart Status: Evaluation pending (Lower leg)
What Most People Get Wrong About This Slump
There’s a narrative that LeBron is finally slowing down. That’s just wrong. He’s still averaging 20/9/8 over this stretch. The problem is the "middle" of the roster. Guys like Gabe Vincent and the younger rotations haven't provided the scoring punch needed when the stars sit.
Also, the schedule hasn't been kind. Back-to-backs and road trips against high-pace teams like Sacramento and Portland have exposed the Lakers' lack of transition defense. They are one of the slowest teams in terms of getting back after a missed shot.
How the Lakers Fix the Season
If they want to move up from the 6th seed, things have to change before the trade deadline. Relying on 40-year-old LeBron to play 35 minutes a night just to stay competitive with Charlotte isn't a sustainable plan.
Actionable Next Steps for LA:
- Prioritize the Paint: If Ayton can't stay healthy, Pelinka needs to find a serviceable backup big who can actually block a shot.
- Stagger the Stars: Redick needs to ensure either Luka or LeBron is on the floor at all times to prevent those 12-0 runs that happen when the bench takes over.
- Tighten the Perimeter: The "drop" coverage isn't working when guards are getting screened into oblivion. They need to switch more aggressively, even if it creates mismatches.
The Lakers host Toronto next. It’s a chance to reset. But if they don't fix the defensive rotations soon, the talk of a "slump" is going to turn into a talk about a lost season. Keep an eye on the injury report for Marcus Smart; his absence would be a massive blow to an already struggling defensive unit.