LOS ANGELES, Calif. – After riding a three-game win streak going into their game against the Detroit Pistons, the Los Angeles Lakers became a turnover machine in a home game played at Crypto.com Arena.
The constant turnovers by the Lakers saw them unable to extend their win streak. Combinations of careless turnovers and forced errors never allowed the Lakers to find their stride.
The Pistons’ relentless pressure on defense allowed them to hold on and secure a 117-114 win and the season series sweep over the Lakers. The Lakers turned the ball over 18 times in the defeat.

The Lakers started off well in the first quarter of play against the Pistons, at one point even going up by eight points. After that flurry, the defensive intensity picked up dramatically for the Pistons, as they would blitz every pick and roll by the Lakers.
Lakers head coach JJ Reddick anticipated the potential of that strategy, but the Lakers could not effectively avoid Detroit’s pressure.
“ We knew ahead of time that they were gonna shock or blitz at times and I’m not sure why we were so surprised by that… they capitalized every time we made a mistake.” Reddick said.
Austin Reaves, one of the Lakers’ main ballhandlers, was one of the main players affected by Detroit’s pressure. Reaves, one of the more reliable pick-and-roll ball handlers in the entire league, suffered from having five turnovers.
“They are a really aggressive defensive team. Myself personally, I didn’t handle it well and I gotta be better to help us be successful,” Reaves said.
Reaves was constantly blitzed on each pick-and-roll attempt, and it caused him disruption, something he will need to clean up.
The Lakers won the majority of each statistical battle. Rising star from the Pistons Cade Cunningham was held to a relatively quiet night due to the defense of Lakers guard Max Christie.
This loss while other aspects hurt them, simply comes down to turnovers. The Lakers will need to clean up the looseness of the basketball and manage on ball pressure significantly better, otherwise, every team will attempt the same game plan as the Pistons.

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