After an abysmal start to the NBA season defensively, the Lakers turned a corner on that end of the floor over the last month, and they’re confident the reasoning behind the turnaround can help lead to further success. With respect to their roster construction, the Lakers’ defense wasn’t expected to be a top-tier unit entering the season. But they started off even worse than anticipated. The Lakers’ defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) of 117.9 through their first 40 games