Anthony Davis and LeBron James can't mask Lakers' issues in loss to Pistons

JJ Redick, the mathematically inclined Lakers coach, knows the sample sizes are too small as the Lakers enter their third week of the season. Still, 27th in anything is probably at least a little concerning.

Through six games, that’s where Redick’s team ranked in defensive efficiency, a stunning statistic considering his team is anchored by one of the NBA’s premier defensive players in Anthony Davis.

“I think we can be a really good defensive team,” Redick said before Monday's game against the Detroit Pistons. “I'm confident when we get a larger sample size, we won't be 27th in the league.”

After the first half of game seven, it was probably worse.

Read more: Anthony Davis unsure if lingering foot injury will continue to hamper him

Forget that the Pistons had only won twice this season, that they’d been stuck in the mud on a rebuild with no real ending in sight. Forget that they played in Brooklyn the day before while the Lakers enjoyed time off after their win in Toronto.

From the moment Monday’s game began, the Lakers' biggest issues — the ones on the defensive end — were the biggest problems on the court.

The Lakers lost 115-103 to the Pistons, their first loss in Detroit since 2021, after allowing 67 first-half points and failing to slow their opponent in almost every aspect of the game.

“We just need to start the game with a little more just pride defensively,” Redick said after the loss.

Davis led the Lakers (4-3) with 37 points and nine rebounds. LeBron James added 20 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists. But the Lakers’ bench was outscored 27-10.

The Pistons were more forceful to the glass. They were quicker in transition. They were more aggressive to the basket. And even though they were ice cold, they were more willing to take three-point shots.

Asked where the defense failed early, Davis was blunt.

“Everywhere,” he said.

The early problems were severe enough to force the Lakers into an uphill climb for nearly the entirety of the game, a climb they were unable to make.

“I just don't think we competed hard enough the first half,” Austin Reaves said. “Anytime you go down around 20 at any point in the game, it's tough to fight your way back.”

Redick tightened his rotation in the second half. Cam Reddish replaced Max Christie, and rookie Dalton Knecht didn’t play after the second quarter.

Read more: LeBron James and Lakers 'take two steps forward' in win over Raptors

The Pistons (3-5) finished with 11 more shots, 18 more rebounds, nine more second-chance points and six more points in the paint.

The loss to Detroit ensured the Lakers will have a losing five-game trip.

“Gotta be better on both sides of the floor. That's all,” James said. “I think there's times where we're good. There's times where we're not so good on both sides of the floor. There's things we're still working out.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.