Pistons expose LeBron James and Lakers for what they are – and are not – in loss in LA

Identity in the NBA, the fundamental qualities that determine how a team plays most nights, is almost always forged over the course of a season.

The Lakers began the season with the belief that their defensive deficiencies would simply require them to outscore their opponents. Then, in a 180-degree turn, improved defensive performance contributed to the team’s strong play of late and simply pumped more energy into that area of ​​the field.

But what about the parts of identity that cannot be learned? What about the things that are happening right now Are?

On Monday night against the Detroit Pistons, the Lakers played with speed at times. They were able to play with physicality at times.

Read more: The Lakers rally late and then hold off the Kings to get another win

But the Lakers, on most nights, are simply a squad that tries to be just that. And against a team like Detroit that doesn’t have to try to be physical or athletic, it’s crystal clear what the Lakers are doing are not – tall, strong or particularly athletic.

LeBron James has made it his career to possess attributes on a level that no one else can match. But 22 years in the NBA have provided a template for how to bully smaller players: The Pistons chase the smaller Lakers as Cade Cunningham and Detroit’s younger, stronger, tougher players crush them for a 117-114 victory.

Cunningham needed 25 shots to score 20 points, but the effort and energy it took for the Lakers, especially Max Christie and Austin Reaves, to slow the former No. 1 had a cumulative effect. It wasn’t all at once. But the sum of the energy expended undoubtedly went into other areas.

The Lakers (16-13), trailing by as many as 11 points in the fourth after being injured for most of the second half, got within three points in the final 30 seconds. But Anthony Davis missed a layup. And while a foul was called, Detroit challenged and the officials overturned the decision.

The Pistons (13-17) and Cunningham went after Reaves again, with the Lakers guard forcing a late miss. The team had 3.7 seconds and one last chance to tie, but James missed an open three-pointer just before the buzzer.

“We’re working on that,” James said of his final shot. “We work on end-of-game stuff every day. We got the look we wanted, but it just didn’t work out.”

Monday’s loss was a testament to the Lakers’ growing understanding of their style of play, bolstered by a welcome offense that included 14 successful three-pointers – the most for the Lakers in five games.

And physically, the Lakers have struggled – just not with as much comfort as the Pistons.

Neither Laker was fouled a second time until there were 4 minutes and 20 seconds left in the game. And Detroit’s brawn certainly contributed to the Lakers’ 20 turnovers, mistakes that led to 28 Pistons points (the Lakers scored just nine of Detroit’s 12 turnovers).

“We were just loose with the ball,” Davis said. “We tried to make the right plays. But they manage turnovers well and it’s hard to win a game with 20 turnovers. But we just have to get better at basketball. All. I think that was the difference in the game.”

Reaves had six of those turnovers and said afterward that he needed to play better.

“They’re a really aggressive defensive team and I personally didn’t handle that well,” he said.

James led the Lakers with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Each of the other four starters scored at least 10 points, but former Laker Malik Beasley scored 21 points off the Detroit bench. The Pistons’ reserves outscored the Lakers’ 52-28.

But the tone of the game was set by how Detroit won the little battles that define possession, the ball pressure that throws a team out of rhythm, the grabbing that makes a screen a little more effective, the sliding under the glass, the too an extra leads possession.

The Lakers have counteracted this before – just not consistently. There are things the Lakers can do to make more physical teams less of a problem. But there’s probably not much they can do to completely eliminate this problem.

“We have to be stronger. That’s all,” James said. “We have to do it as a team. We have to help the boys open up. When guys are putting pressure on the ball, you have to help guys shield better. You have to screen better. …You have to use your triple threat (position). If you have a live dribble, get the guys away from you.

“But it’s not something you can learn. You don’t learn to be more physical. It’s either in you or it’s not.”

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.