Lakers’ Perimeter Defense Reaches Breaking Point as JJ Redick Sounds the Alarm

The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t just lose to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night.

They were exposed.

In a 135–118 defeat, the Hornets carved up Los Angeles with alarming ease, scoring 30 or more points in every quarter, shooting 54% from the field and a blistering 47% from beyond the arc. The game was never truly competitive, and by the final buzzer, one truth was undeniable: the Lakers’ perimeter defense is a glaring, season-long problem — and it’s getting worse.

Head coach JJ Redick didn’t sugarcoat it afterward. He acknowledged what fans have been seeing for months and what elite offenses have increasingly exploited — the Lakers cannot consistently defend the ball at the point of attack, nor can they reliably clean up mistakes on the back end.

Perimeter Defense: The Root of the Lakers’ Collapse

Against teams with dynamic creators, the Lakers look helpless.

Charlotte, led by LaMelo Ball, presented the exact type of matchup Los Angeles currently has no answer for. Ball repeatedly broke down defenders off the dribble, forced rotations, and punished every late closeout with either a drive, kick-out, or secondary assist.

The Lakers lack a true perimeter stopper — someone capable of staying in front of elite shot creators without immediate help. When that initial line of defense fails, the entire structure collapses.

That collapse was on full display Thursday night.

JJ Redick Identifies the Core Issues

“Against certain teams that have dynamic drivers, we can be a little bit cautious guarding the ball,” Redick said. “If we do get beat off the dribble, then we are in rotation. I thought our low man was awful all night.”

That quote cuts to the heart of the Lakers’ defensive identity — or lack thereof.

Los Angeles is often hesitant at the point of attack, wary of fouling or overcommitting. When guards or wings are beaten, help defense arrives late, rotations are sloppy, and the rim is left vulnerable. Against a confident shooting team like Charlotte, that combination is deadly.

Defensive Rating Tells the Story

This wasn’t a one-off bad night.

The Lakers currently sit 25th in the NBA in defensive rating, a shocking position for a team with championship aspirations. Against average offenses, they can sometimes survive. Against teams with speed, creativity, and spacing, they unravel.

Dynamic ball-handlers force LA into uncomfortable decisions:

• Switch and give up mismatches

• Help early and surrender open threes

• Stay home and concede drives

None of the options are good — because the personnel doesn’t support them.

Going Small Made Things Worse

The situation was compounded by Jaxson Hayes’ absence, forcing the Lakers to deploy smaller lineups with the second unit. That decision, while necessary, exposed the team’s lack of rim protection even further.

Without a reliable shot-blocker anchoring the paint, perimeter defenders become even more hesitant. They know there’s no safety net behind them. As a result, ball pressure softens, lanes open, and the defense becomes reactive instead of aggressive.

It’s a vicious cycle — and Charlotte exploited it mercilessly.

Deandre Ayton Isn’t Solving the Problem

On paper, Deandre Ayton should help mask perimeter mistakes. In reality, he hasn’t.

Ayton’s effort and engagement fluctuate from night to night, and his rim protection has been inconsistent at best. Lakers legend James Worthy recently pointed out that the team continues to need more from Ayton — and they simply aren’t getting it.

If Ayton were consistently locking down the paint, perimeter breakdowns wouldn’t be as catastrophic. Guards could apply pressure knowing there’s help behind them. Instead, opponents attack with confidence, knowing there’s little resistance once they get downhill.

Improving rim protection would not fix everything — but it would significantly reduce the damage.

The 3-and-D Wing Problem

Short of a major trade, the Lakers’ perimeter issues are unlikely to disappear.

They simply do not have a reliable 3-and-D wing who can guard elite scorers while remaining playable offensively. That archetype is one of the most valuable in the NBA — and one of the hardest to acquire.

Marcus Smart, currently the Lakers’ best perimeter defender, is no longer the lockdown force fans remember from his Boston Celtics days. He has lost a step laterally and is now better suited defending wings rather than explosive guards.

Against players like LaMelo Ball, that’s a problem.

Smart can compete, but he cannot consistently contain elite creators without help — and the Lakers’ help defense is already stretched thin.

Rob Pelinka Faces a Defining Decision

General manager Rob Pelinka cannot afford to ignore this.

A trade may be necessary, but it won’t be enough unless it meaningfully upgrades perimeter defense. Marginal moves won’t fix systemic issues. The Lakers need either:

• A true point-of-attack defender

• A high-level rim protector

• Or ideally, both

Anything less leaves them dangerously matchup-dependent.

Playoff Implications Are Dire

The most concerning part? This problem will only get worse in the playoffs.

Every postseason team features at least one dynamic shot creator — often two or three. Defensive weaknesses are hunted relentlessly. There is no hiding, no coasting, and no margin for error.

Right now, the Lakers are vulnerable against nearly every playoff-caliber offense.

Fans already know the pattern: when the opponent has an elite creator, the Lakers struggle mightily. That reality makes their postseason ceiling highly questionable.

Redick Has Called It Out — Now Comes the Hard Part

JJ Redick deserves credit for his honesty. He didn’t deflect blame or hide behind excuses. He identified the flaws clearly.

But calling out the problem is only the first step.

Fixing it will require:

• A meaningful roster move

• Increased defensive buy-in

• Improved communication and rotations

• Greater rim protection consistency

• And a willingness to change scheme if necessary

None of that is easy.

The Bottom Line

The Los Angeles Lakers have a serious defensive problem — one that starts on the perimeter and ends at the rim.

Until it’s addressed, every team with a dynamic creator will view LA as vulnerable. Championships aren’t won with defenses ranked in the bottom third of the league, especially not in today’s offense-driven NBA.

The alarm has been sounded.

Now the question is whether the Lakers will actually respond — or continue hoping the problem fixes itself.

Because right now, it won’t.