The Los Angeles Lakers have been having troubles in third quarters so far this season, often wasting their leads. The recent game against the Detroit Pistons was different, as the purple and gold used the third quarter to separate themselves from their opponents as they won it 32-22.
After the game, Lakers head coach Frank Vogel was asked to talk about this particular third quarter. “I just thought the third quarter was our best defensive quarter,” he said. “We have one five out of eight third quarters coming in tonight, so now I guess six out of nine.
“Obviously it was a trouble area for us, obviously that Minnesota game was the biggest one and we knew we had to do better so we made the adjustment and have improved there. But I challenge these guys to really compete to be a great defensive team. That’s why our lives are hard right now.
“We’re not fully committed and bought into all the details and effort pieces on that side of the ball. That’s all we talked about the last 48 hours and obviously the third quarter was our best defensive quarter.”
