Ugly win. Useful clues.Revived defense without a traditional center, with Vando and Maxi thriving.A first look at Luke Kennard.And Rob Pelinka offering hints about what’s changing behind the scenes
https://t.co/WqE9CytkDy pic.twitter.com/rwqJE5HMBK— Iztok Franko (@iztok_franko) February 8, 2026
FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:
2-Jarred Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber thriving in a smaller, more agile environment
The Lakers have won their last two games with defense. A scrambling, mobile zone defense, without a traditional center.
Two players have been instrumental in this setup. By utilizing zone, JJ Redick seems to have found the best formula to maximize Jarred Vanderbilt’s unique skill set. Like his teammates, Vanderbilt missed a couple of cuts and can still be undisciplined at times, but with his length, mobility, and constant hustle, he is the main player providing the necessary pressure at the top of the zone. His endless motor was also key against the Warriors, who crash the glass with four players at a time, as he won plenty of scrambles for long rebounds outside the paint. Two made corner threes and 13 total points were just an added bonus, making up a very impactful 18 Vando minutes.
If Vando was the key at the top, Maxi Kleber was, for a second consecutive game, the difference on the back line. The 34-year-old German looks healthy and mobile again, a reminder of why he was such an impactful defender in his prime. I won’t get tricked into believing this is sustainable at this stage of his career, especially given his injury history. Everything the Lakers get out of Kleber should be viewed as an unexpected plus. The biggest benefit of his recent stretch is not just his undeniable on-court impact (he was a game-high +12 again), but the realization of how stark the difference is when the back line is manned by a high-IQ, mobile defender compared to the Lakers’ other big-man options.