LeBron James couldn’t help the Los Angeles Lakers as they saw their eight-game winning streak snapped against the Boston Celtics. Now, in his absence, the Lakers have lost two more games, bringing their losing streak to 3.
After the Lakers suffered a 20-point defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks, NBA analyst Timothy Legler questioned their defensive capabilities.
Without LeBron James, the Lakers Lose to the Bucks as Analyst Calls Out Their Lackluster Defense
Against Milwaukee, the Lakers fell behind in the first quarter and never recovered, ultimately losing 106-126 on the road. Legler pointed out one glaring issue: their defense.
While the partnership of Luka Dončić and James had brought the Lakers success, Lebron’s injury and absence has resulted in the first losing streak of 3 games or longer in the new era of the Lakers.
During his appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up” on Friday, Legler called out head coach J.J. Redick for not addressing the team’s defensive struggles.
“For me, what changed about this team before they even made the trade was defensively, over a period of time, J.J. Redick started having an impact with the way he wanted them to play defense.”
"That was as soft a defensive game as you're going to see a team play in the NBA." 😳
—@legsespn on the Lakers' defense in their 126-106 loss to the Bucks 👀 pic.twitter.com/PDf2SPxt9d
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 14, 2025
“That’s what turned their season around before the trade. And then it was a matter of meshing with Luka and LeBron—that started to happen. And what I saw last night was a team that reverted back to what they were at the beginning of the season.”
Legler continued, “That was as soft a defensive game as you’re going to see a team play in the NBA. Milwaukee felt no resistance the entire night. And if you’re trying to win games without LeBron, you’re trying to stem the tide till he gets back, whenever that may be.”
Legler emphasized that in James’ absence, the Lakers must tighten up defensively and make it their identity. With a record of 40-24, the Lakers have now dropped to fourth place in the Western Conference, and are at risk of falling further with multiple teams close behind in the standings.
James’ Injury Update for Denver Nuggets Game
The Lakers have one more game left on their current road before heading home for 4-game home stand. Friday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets could be a season-defining game for both teams, as the Nuggets look to continue their winnging ways and Los Angeles looks to right the ship.
James has been sent back to Los Angeles and will not be available for the game. In his absence, much of the offensive responsibility will fall on Dončić’s shoulders to deliver in a crucial matchup. Dončić posted an impressive stat line of 45 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists in Thursday’s loss to Milwaukee.
The Lakers and Nuggets will face off on Friday, March 14, with tipoff scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET.