Lately, the Los Angeles Lakers are arguably playing the best basketball they’ve played since parts of the 2020-21 season.
At least that’s how it feels when looking at the Association across everyone’s last five games. The Lakers are 4-1 in that span, owning the 4th-ranked net rating, which includes the 2nd-ranked defensive rating.
Of course, just glancing at those statistics would ignore very important context, which mostly includes the quality of opponents the Lakers have faced in that time. Their four wins include victories over the 9-11 Nets, the 29th-ranked in net rating Pistons, with the remaining two coming against the team dead-last in net rating: the San Antonio Spurs.