REPORT: After weeks of defensive struggles, Lakers head coach JJ Redick is challenging his team to prove they can be a true force on that end of the floor. His message suggests this isn’t just about effort—but about identity. The question now is whether the Lakers can respond when it matters most.

The Los Angeles Lakers have enjoyed a strong start to the season. They’re 17-7 and sit fourth in the Western Conference, one game behind the Denver Nuggets, who occupy the second seed.

However, there’s a growing concern over the Lakers’ defense, which currently ranks 21st in the NBA. When speaking to the media following a practice session on Saturday, Redick gave a blunt yet hopeful assessment of the team’s potential defensive improvements.

“We’ve taken charges. That’s been good… We’ve just completely lost our fundamentals. It takes reps. The last two days in practice have been great. I think the guys have been great with how they’ve responded to our meeting yesterday. Doesn’t mean we’re gonna come out tomorrow and play amazing defense. This is my job. I’m not gonna just say, ‘we’re not gonna be a good defensive team.’ No, we’re gonna scrap and claw and do everything we can to turn this into a good defensive team.”

.@DanWoikeSports: (You haven’t used the word banshese much this year.)

JJ Redick: “Because we haven’t been banshees.”

(Are you on a banshee hunt with this roster?)

JJ: “We’ve taken charges. That’s been good…the guys have been great with how they’ve responded to our meeting

If the Lakers can improve on defense, they could emerge as a genuine championship contender. However, if their struggles continue, they will struggle to assert themselves in the later rounds of the playoffs.

Fortunately, Redick and the coaching staff have more than enough time to improve on the current defensive deficiencies and position the Lakers to be a threat moving forward.

Lakers Contemplating Bringing Vanderbilt Back

Jarred Vanderbilt started the season as a key piece in the Lakers’ rotation. However, he’s since fallen out of favor. Yet, amid the Lakers’ poor defensive showings, Redick has admitted that he’s considering bringing the Vanderbilt back into the rotation due to his defensive upside.

“If this continues, he’ll definitely get his opportunities,” Redick said on Friday of the Lakers bringing Vando back into the rotation, via Thuc Nhi Nguyen of LA Times.

Redick is also confident that Los Angeles has the talent it needs to turn their defensive woes around.

“I don’t think there’s anybody in that meeting room that thinks we’re a good defensive team right now,” Redick said, “but I also don’t think there’s anybody in that meeting room who thinks we can’t be a good defensive team. We’ve got to get better.”

Lakers’ Austin Reaves Still Has Faith

When speaking to the media following the Lakers’ 132-119 loss to Victor Wembanyama-less San Antonio Spurs, Austin Reaves urged his teammates to prove they can be a defensive force.

“That’s a weakness we’ve got to get better at,” Reaves said. “The spirit is still high in here, we know we can do it. But we have to be a group that guards with five people.”

In order to be a legitimate contender, the Lakers must be a threat on both sides of the ball. Winning games based on offense is fine for the regular season, but it won’t be enough to secure victories deep into the playoffs.

Redick has a talented roster at his disposal. Therefore, his challenge is figuring out which combinations and rotations give him juice on both sides.

Once he figures that out, the Lakers will be a force.