Lakers' Defensive Woes Deepen as Jaxson Hayes Re-Injures Ankle

The timing couldn't be worse for a Lakers team already ranked 27th in defensive rating and sitting just 0.6 points per 100 possessions from the NBA's basement. With only Anthony Davis and two-way player Christian Koloko as true centers, Hayes's presence was supposed to provide much-needed depth and defensive relief.

Hayes's absence has already taken its toll on Anthony Davis, whose defensive impact has begun to slip under the weight of JJ Redick's scheme. While Hayes isn't an elite defender, his 6-foot-11 frame provided valuable paint protection and allowed Davis to preserve energy throughout games.

The defensive issues run deeper than just Hayes's injury. After watching his team get dismantled in consecutive third quarters by Denver and Phoenix, Redick had to acknowledge an uncomfortable truth about his roster construction:

The Lakers lack the speed and athleticism, particularly at guard, to execute their defensive game plan. Teams are finding easy paths to the paint, and no amount of coaching adjustments can mask the personnel limitations. What began as a third quarter aberration against Denver has exposed fundamental flaws in the Lakers' defensive makeup.

For a team desperately trying to climb out of the defensive cellar, losing Hayes again might force some difficult conversations about roster construction.