The Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest problem this season has been their defense. They rank at or near the bottom of the league in basically every major defensive category and have held only one team under 100 points this season.
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While they didn’t hold the Hawks under 100, the Lakers defense looked much better in the team’s 114-109 road win and after the victory, head coach Byron Scott gave a reason why according to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters via TWC SportsNet:
Byron Scott on why the defense clicked tonight: "Ya, the fact that I told them if they didn't play I was going to take them out." (on TWC)
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) November 19, 2014
Whatever Scott told the team, he would be wise to keep it up as the Lakers were flying around the court and held the Hawks to only 33 percent from three-point range, including noted gunner Kyle Korver, who made just two shots on the night.
The Lakers did a much better job of hustling back in transition and challenging threes, which have been the team’s biggest struggles and if they are able to keep up this level of play, they should be able to challenge most teams.
The team won’t have much time to bask on their performance as they have to go through Texas next with games against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday and the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. They will have to keep up the defensive intensity if they plan on stealing another road win.
[divide]Lakers Post Game Report: Kobe, ‘Things Go Good, It’s Us. Things Go Bad, It’s Me’
