The Lakers are struggling to guard a quick point guard and find themselves tied 2-2 in a first-round series against a less-talented team they should have swept. Sound familiar?
Last year, Russell Westbrook averaged 20.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists as the eighth-seeded Thunder pushed the Lakers to six games.
Westbrook was a second-year player in his first postseason appearance.
This year, L.A. has a much more formidable opposing point guard exploiting 36-year-old Derek Fisher‘s inability to stay in front of speedy guards.
Chris Paul is dominating the Lakers. The Hornets point guard had a triple-double in Sunday’s 93-88 win and is averaging 25.5 points, 11.5 assists and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 57.1 percent from the field during the series.
Paul has reminded everyone why he was once regarded as the best point guard in the league before suffering a knee injury last season.
The Lakers’ defense is struggling to find an answer for Paul. Kobe Bryant has switched over to guarding the Hornets star with some success, but an ankle injury late in Sunday’s game could limit Bryant’s lateral movement for the rest of the series.
No matter who is marking Paul, the Lakers need to improve their team pick-and-roll defense. Way too often 7-footers Andrew Bynum or Pau Gasol have switched onto the 6-foot guard. And Paul consistently has taken advantage of those situations.
Last year, the Lakers made adjustments, closed out the Thunder and went on to win the NBA title.
But last year they didn’t face Paul.
