After the Lakers’ 132-108 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, LeBron James addressed the team’s defensive struggles, noting, “The offense was clicking, our defense wasn’t. That’s literally what it was.”
James acknowledged the challenge of adjusting to multiple lineups this season. “It’s not obviously an excuse cuz you got to play the game that’s in front of you… we came up short. We failed that in that aspect,” he said.
Discussing the pathway to improved defense, James emphasized team cohesion. “It has to be five guys on the string… the fast break points, the second chance points, the open threes that we do not want to give up,” he said, giving credit to Phoenix’s execution. “Book hits them. Dillon Brooks hit some. They played exceptionally well.”
He reflected on energy and effort against high-intensity teams. “There are a handful in the league that just inherently play pretty hard every night… we reach those levels every once in a while, but we do it differently,” James said. He also highlighted personnel differences: “Every team is constructed differently… injuries can create a whack-a-mole situation, but there are other things we can strengthen and get better every night.”
James praised Austin Reaves’ return from injury. “It was good to see him on the court… it’s a rhythm thing. It took him a half to get his feet underneath him again. But he’ll be fine,” he said.
He acknowledged the team’s resilience after consecutive losses. “You don’t want to keep stacking nails… hopefully we can get back on the win way soon,” James said. On close games, he admitted, “I have no idea” why the Lakers have not lost a tight contest yet this season.
Despite James scoring 23 points, the Lakers struggled to keep pace as Phoenix outscored them 45-29 in the third quarter. Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 25 points, Devin Booker added 21 and 11 assists, and Mark Williams contributed 18 points and nine rebounds, helping Phoenix maintain balance and control throughout the contest.
The loss drops the Lakers to 19-9, continuing a streak of defeats without Luka Doncic, who remains sidelined with a lower leg contusion. Phoenix improves to 16-13 and will travel to New Orleans on Friday, while the Lakers host Houston on Thursday.
