Identity in the NBA, the fundamental qualities that define how a team will play most nights, is almost always forged over the course of a season.
He Lakers They entered the season convinced that they would simply need to outplay their opponents due to their defensive deficiencies. Then, in a 180-degree turn, an improved defensive effort helped fuel its recent stretch of strong play: the team simply put more energy into that area of the court.
But what about the parts of identity that can’t be learned? What about the things that just are?
On Monday night against the Detroit Pistons the Lakers, at times, played with speed. At times, they were able to play physically.
Read more: Lakers rally late, then hold off Kings for another win
But the Lakers, most nights, are simply a squad trying to be those things. And against a team like Detroit, one that doesn’t have to be physical or athletic, it’s very clear what the Lakers they are not – big, strong or particularly athletic.
LeBron James He has made a career out of possessing those traits at levels no one else could match. But 22 years in the NBA have provided a model for how to intimidate smaller players: the Pistons hunt down the smaller Lakers with Cade Cunningham and Detroit’s younger, stronger, tougher players beating them for a 117-114 victory.
Cunningham needed 25 shots to score 20 points, but there was a cumulative effect in the effort and energy it took for the Lakers, particularly Christian Max and Austin Reavesto try to stop the former number one selection. It wasn’t all at once. But the sum of the energy expended undoubtedly overflowed into other areas.
The Lakers (16-13), who trailed by as many as 11 in the quarter after being bruised for most of the second half, pulled within three in the final 30 seconds. But Anthony Davis he missed a driving layup. And while a foul was called, Detroit challenged and the referees overturned the call.
The Pistons (13-17) and Cunningham attacked Reaves again, and the Lakers guard forced a miss in the last clock. The team had 3.7 seconds and one last chance to tie it, but James missed an open 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
“It was something we worked on,” James said of his final shot. “We work on the end game every day. “We got the look we wanted and it just didn’t work.”
Monday’s loss was a testament to the Lakers’ growing understanding of the way they need to play, helped by a welcome offense provided by 14 successful 3-pointers, the most for the Lakers in five games.
And physically, the Lakers fought, but not as comfortably as the Pistons.
No Laker was called for a second foul until 4 minutes and 20 seconds remained in the game. And Detroit’s strength 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 loose with the ball,” Davis said. “…We were trying to make the right plays. But they do a good job creating turnovers and it’s hard to win a game with 20. But we have to be better at basketball. All. “I think that was the difference in the game.”
Reaves lost six of those losses and then said he needed to play better.
“They are a very aggressive defensive team and I personally didn’t handle it 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, but former Laker Malik Beasley scored 21 off Detroit’s bench. The Pistons’ reserves outscored the Lakers 52-28.
But the tone of the game was set by the way Detroit won the minor battles that define possessions, the ball pressure that throws a team out of rhythm, the grab that makes a screen a little more effective, the push under the crystal leading to an extra move. possession.
The Lakers have countered him before, but not consistently. There are things the Lakers can do to make more physical teams less of a problem. But there probably isn’t much they can do to make that problem go away completely.
“We have to be stronger. That’s it,” James said. “…We have to do it as a team. We have to help the boys open up. When guys pressure the ball, you have to help them protect better. You have to make a better screen. … You have to use your triple threat (position). When you have a live dribble, have the guys get up off of you.
“However, it is 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 on Los Angeles Times.