Lakers’ Defense a Work in Progress, But Jaxson Hayes Brings the Spark
The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a strong 14-4 start, and there’s no mystery why-they’ve been one of the most efficient offensive teams in the league. But while the offense is humming, the defense is still finding its rhythm.
The Lakers have a handful of solid individual defenders, but as a unit, they know there’s room to grow. One player helping to anchor that effort?
Jaxson Hayes.
Hayes, the high-energy reserve center, has quietly carved out a meaningful role in the Lakers’ defensive rotation. After the Lakers’ win over the Clippers last Tuesday, he spoke candidly about where the team stands on that end of the floor.
“I feel like there’s always room for improvement,” Hayes said. “Right now everyone is just flying around making plays and just trying to cover for each other.
And it’s like we have our nights of good defense and we have our nights where we have lapses. But I feel like it’s all part of the growing pains of the season.
I feel like we’re just trying to get better and get more connected.”
That kind of honesty reflects where the Lakers are defensively-flashes of cohesion, but still ironing out the wrinkles. Statistically, the contrast between offense and defense is clear. The Lakers rank sixth in the league in offensive rating at 119.4, but just 16th in defensive rating at 115.5, according to Basketball Reference.
Hayes himself has been a bright spot in that defensive mix. Among players in the regular rotation, he’s in the top half of the roster in defensive rating at 115.6, per StatMuse. It’s not elite, but it’s solid-and more importantly, it reflects the kind of effort Hayes brings every night.
Head coach JJ Redick, though, isn’t putting too much stock in defensive metrics alone. Before the Lakers’ win over the Mavericks on Friday, Redick offered a broader perspective.
“I think our defense is better than whatever our defensive rating is,” Redick said. “There’s some positive things that we’ve done this year.
When you have a couple of outliers of games, it’s not always going to be reflected through your overall defensive rating. But that typically evens out over a longer season.
I know that we’re trending in the right way defensively.”
That’s a fair point. Defensive rating can be skewed by a few bad nights, and the Lakers have had their share of those.
But the eye test shows a team that’s communicating better, rotating faster, and starting to build trust on that end. And Hayes is a big part of that.
Whether he’s starting or coming off the bench, Hayes has embraced his role: bring energy, contest shots, clean the glass, and make life difficult for opponents in the paint. Through 18 games, he’s averaging 3.9 rebounds per game-2.8 of those on the defensive end. That’s not just effort; it’s commitment to the dirty work that doesn’t always show up in highlight reels.
Now in his third season with the Lakers after re-signing on a one-year deal this past offseason, Hayes is proving he can be a reliable piece in a rotation that’s still evolving. His role might not grab headlines, but for a team with championship aspirations, having a player like Hayes who can step in and stabilize the defense is invaluable.
The Lakers’ offense is already firing on all cylinders. If the defense catches up-and the signs are pointing in that direction-this team could be even more dangerous as the season progresses. And if Hayes keeps doing the little things right, he’ll be one of the unsung reasons why.