Early on in Thursday night’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to get out in transition and jump out to an early lead. Portland adjusted by either sending a big to the offensive glass, or making a concerted effort to get back in transition.
When they did the former, the Lakers had problems, and at practice, Lakers head Luke Walton said defensive rebounding was “probably” at the top of the Lakers’ list of issues they focused on.
“Especially with some of the lineups we’re going to be playing, that’s the part where it takes the continuity and chemistry of playing with each other, knowing that if we’re going to have small lineups, that all five guys are in there (securing the board),” Walton said.