Magic Johnson On Why Lakers Could Struggle In The Playoffs; Luka And Reaves Are Major Concerns

Magic Johnson has always been one of the most insightful minds when it comes to basketball analysis, and his latest comments about the Los Angeles Lakers’ potential struggles in the playoffs have raised eyebrows. 

Speaking on Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast, Magic acknowledged that the Lakers have a strong offense but pointed out critical weaknesses that could be exploited in the postseason, particularly on the defensive end with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

"I thought it was good in terms of having somebody later as a star after LeBron retires. Offensively, it's a good team, right? It's a team where you have to say, 'Okay, man, we got two guys we got to try to control and stop,' but both of those guys are great passers, so they make the other players better."

"Where they're going to have to improve is on that defensive end and what happens in the playoffs. See, in the regular season, we're going to be okay. But the playoffs are different because now I got to beat you four out of seven, right?"

"When Byron and I played, we all had meetings, right? The guards would watch film together, then we’d watch it as a team, of course. But we would say, 'Okay, Clever, James, they ain't got nobody to guard you, so we coming to you.' And I’d say, 'Cap, I’m going to give you the first couple, but then we going to go to James.'" 

"Then I would say, 'B, they don’t get back, so I’m going to be pushing that rock, and I’mma be coming to you, baby, so just be ready.' See, we would look at you and break you down where you were weak, and then we would attack you. That’s what the Lakers are going to have to deal with once the playoffs start."

"Because we saw it against Boston—Boston looked up and said, 'Okay, I’mma put Luka in the pick and roll every single time.' And then Tatum had him saying, 'Uh oh, you on me? Okay, I’m just gonna go right past you or pull up for my jump shot,' because he knew he could just beat him off the dribble."

"They did the same thing to Austin Reaves. So the two dudes they wanted to attack were Luka and Austin Reaves off the dribble. Jaylen Brown said, 'Oh, my turn. You had a big first half, right? My turn now, my turn now.' And that’s how they beat the Lakers. So what’s going to happen in the playoffs on the defensive end?"

Magic praised the Lakers’ long-term outlook, especially in terms of having a star for the future once LeBron James retires. He acknowledged that the team has two elite offensive playmakers in LeBron and Luka, which makes them incredibly difficult to defend. 

However, he warned that regular-season success doesn’t always translate to playoff dominance, emphasizing that teams will scout weaknesses and attack them relentlessly in a seven-game series.

One of Magic’s biggest concerns is that teams will expose the Lakers’ defensive liabilities in the playoffs. He referenced a recent game against the Boston Celtics, where Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown repeatedly hunted Luka and Reaves in isolation.

This is a major concern because defense wins championships, and if the Lakers can’t contain elite wings and guards, they could struggle against teams like the Celtics, Thunder, Cavaliers, or Nuggets in a deep playoff run.

Despite these concerns, the Lakers have been one of the best defensive teams since January 15th. Over their last 30 games, they have posted the second-best defensive rating in the NBA, going 22-8 in that stretch. Their record is the fourth-best in the league during this period, trailing only the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Cleveland Cavaliers—all of whom currently hold the top records in the league.

The Lakers’ defense has been a key factor in their rise to the 4th seed in the West with a 42-25 record. Although, as Magic pointed out, the regular season and playoffs are two entirely different battles.

The Lakers’ primary goal is to finish in the top six to avoid the Play-In Tournament, but securing a top-four seed would give them home-court advantage in the first round. With Luka and LeBron leading the charge, the offense is elite, but defensive concerns—particularly involving Doncic and Reaves—could determine how far they go in the playoffs.

Ultimately, Magic’s concerns are valid, but the Lakers still have time to adjust and tighten up their defense before the postseason begins.