The Los Angeles Lakers are putting playoff conversations on hold after a disappointing loss to the San Antonio Spurs, choosing instead to focus on fixing their struggling defense. The defeat highlighted ongoing issues on the defensive end, where the Lakers allowed easy points, missed rotations, and failed to respond to the Spurs’ energy.
Players and coaches acknowledged that postseason ambitions mean little if the team cannot establish consistency on defense. The Lakers emphasized that their first priority is tightening up communication, improving effort, and rebuilding defensive discipline before thinking about playoff positioning.
Team leaders noted that while the offense has shown flashes of improvement, the defensive breakdowns have repeatedly cost them in close games. The coaching staff is expected to make adjustments in practice, including lineup tweaks and renewed emphasis on defensive schemes.
Despite the setback, the locker room remains optimistic that the team can bounce back if they commit to correcting their mistakes. With a challenging stretch of games ahead, the Lakers know they must respond quickly to stay competitive in a crowded Western Conference.
For now, the message is clear: the Lakers will talk playoffs only after they fix their defense — and their performance on the court will determine how far they can go.
