Lakers News: LA Ranks First In This Category Since Roster Shakeups
Your Los Angeles Lakers needed a ton of defensive help at the NBA trade deadline.
Luckily, it appears they've gotten it.
Per ESPN, the Lakers rank first in defensive rating league-wide since they added power forward Jarred Vanderbilt, point guard D'Angelo Russell, shooting guard Malik Beasley and center Mo Bamba (okay, fine, and swingman Davon Reed, I suppose) via trade.
Vanderbilt himself responded on Instagram with this missive: "😈🔒."
Vanderbilt has been a huge part of the team's reinvigorated defensive push. Lineups comprising Vanderbilt plus incumbents Anthony Davis and Troy Brown Jr. have been impressively effective defensively, given the switch-ability of all three frontcourt players on that end of the court and the scoring prowess of those players around the paint.
Malik Beasley is also a big defensive upgrade over Lonnie Walker IV, the team's former starting shooting guard. Walker wrote an angry Instagram post that, judging by the timing, seemed to aimed at helped him stay centered through tough times, a possible solution to grappling with his loss of minutes.
Walker has had a solid season all told, and has recently been reinserted into the Lakers' bench lineups following a long-term injury of his own, although at this point he clearly realizes this is not his year.
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