The Los Angeles Lakers are going through a rather unusual stretch. A quick, surface-level glance would label the purple and gold’s season as absolutely positive – fourth-best record in the West and the seventh-best offense in the league. Yet, more often than not, the biggest problems are hidden in the details.

While this team shows intriguing flashes on which a winning project could be built, it is not yet ready to be the contender everyone expects. The issues are numerous and stem from different areas.

J.J. Redick: a coach lacking respect

There is a growing sense that the Lakers’ head coach has, in some way, lost the trust of his players, and with it a certain degree of authority within the locker room. This can be inferred from the looks and body language of several players during timeouts.

The topic was also addressed by Kendrick Perkins, who shared his perspective last night:

I think Redick has lost the locker room’s attention. I’m not talking about LeBron or Luka – I know they’ll always be on the same wavelength. I’m talking about the other players. Why aren’t they listening to him? I’ll use Ayton as an example: his performance has changed dramatically. If I were Redick, I’d change my approach with the rest of the group. It’s something we’ve seen even the greatest coaches do.

Kendrick Perkins

Defense is the real concern

The defensive problem is so significant that it directly impacts the team’s overall value. The Lakers rank 26th in Defensive Rating, a position that goes well beyond a simple rough patch and instead points to a structural fragility.

A figure like that is incompatible with the ambitions of a team that, at least on paper, is aiming for an NBA title and should be building its identity around defensive reliability – especially in the most crucial moments of the season.

Clear management and defensive issues make it difficult to outline a convincing future. With a fragmented locker room and unclear hierarchies, building something truly solid becomes a complex task for any franchise.

The Lakers remain a team with enormous potential, but right now they appear more constrained by the management of their superstars than truly led by them.