Mark Walter making money moves 👀 https://t.co/k6hnQODahp— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) March 18, 2026

🚨 Lakers are opening up sponsorship rights for their jersey patch next season 🚨Bibigo paid $100 million for a 5 year global marketing partnership in 2021Which brand do you want to see next? 👀 pic.twitter.com/ndTmzR1OSx— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) March 18, 2026

To add to this On the season, Luka is – Top 10 in steals – Top 7 in charges drawn – 95th percentile in shots contested per 100 possessions- 87th percentile in rim contests- allowing 0.84 PPP in 109 isolations this szn, a hairline below Amen Thompson and above Mcdaniels…— Laker$ided (@Lakersided310) March 18, 2026

Luka Doncic’s defensive improvement this season has been insane- 0.84 PPP allowed in isolations (109 possessions)- Top 10 in Steals- Top 7 in Charges Drawn- 95th percentile in shots contested- 87th percentile in rim contests(Via @KellyIko ) pic.twitter.com/9hkin1Aaj9— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) March 18, 2026

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Clutch time defense has been huge for JJ Redick and the Lakers all season long.

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the best clutch time defensive teams in the NBA. At no point did I believe I’d be writing the words best, Lakers, and defensive in the same sentence in 2026, but here we are. On Monday night, that clutch defense once again showed up for the Lake Show. In 3 minutes and 45 seconds of clutch time, the Rockets scored zero baskets. None. Not one!

Two Amen Thompson free throws were the only points the Rockets scored in that stretch; by the time Kevin Durant scored a layup in the final 30 seconds, it was no longer a clutch game. JJ Redick and the Lakers completely shut down one of their biggest competitors in the West, and it wasn’t a fluke — the Lakers are the sixth-best clutch time defensive team in the league.

In fact, they did the exact same thing literally two days earlier against the Denver Nuggets; in overtime, the Nuggets scored two baskets, an Aaron Gordon 3-pointer and a Nikola Jokic layup. That second basket probably wouldn’t have happened if Deandre Ayton had grabbed the ball after he blocked Jokic the first time, but I digress. Still pretty impressive.

In short, that’s two MVP-led offenses the Lakers have neutralized in back-to-back games. It’s a trend, and it’s a thrilling trend for Lakers fans. Dare I say it’s the kind of trend that wins teams playoff series? I do dare! But in the meantime, it’s just an all-around encouraging sign that JJ Redick has gotten buy-in from this team on the defensive end.

Lakers completely shut down Kevin Durant and Rockets offense

Who would have thought the Los Angeles Lakers defense would have Kevin Durant venting about how he doesn’t even want to be a superstar anymore? Not I! But that’s where we are now. I don’t want to speak for Durant (I wouldn’t dare, actually), but this doesn’t sound like a guy who would be thrilled to play the Lakers in the postseason.

“I don’t know man, maybe I just need to get out the way, go sit in the corner. Set some screens, space the floor…….”

Luka Doncic and the Lakers defense got Kevin Durant contemplating life as a role player pic.twitter.com/E9PlogEoeJ

— HeroOfTheDay (@Hero_OfThe_Day) March 17, 2026

Every team goes through ups and downs over the course of an 82-game slog, and the Lakers defense might come back to earth before the playoffs start. Even if that does happen, I think this stretch of high-level defense (both in the clutch and not) is enough of a sign to believe they can hang with most Western Conference teams in the playoffs, which is more than I would have ventured to say a month ago.