New Laker Unpacks Surprisingly Good Defense Of Kevin Durant

Didn't see this coming.

After your Lakers' 100-95 victory over the Suns, breaking down what turned out to be effective down the stretch would benefit that team well. They slowed down the Sun's offense, which enabled LA to outscore Phoenix 28-11 in the 4th quarter. This strategy can potentially lead to replicable success.

“Just them trusting me, it was a big assignment… Making things tough for him was big for me.” Christian Wood speaks on guarding Kevin Durant at a pivotal moment in the game. pic.twitter.com/5UfOmkUjJj

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) October 27, 2023

As Christian Wood explains, he looked to alter Kevin Durant's shots, and while KD still had 39, the idea was to slow him down. That job being more difficult for Wood creates some confidence in the idea that he can potentially be a defensive contributor down the stretch of the season.

Not only can this be a positive in terms of having another versatile defender on the roster, but it bodes well for Wood's role on the team altogether. 

While he struggled offensively today (which is typically his calling card), Wood found ways to contribute defensively. He mentioned how he was deliberate about trying to help the Lakers win in other ways beyond just scoring.

This reflects well on Wood's growth. Mentioning his appreciation of trust from the Lakers team in giving him the assignment of Durant and keeping him out there in spite of his offensive woes (2-7 FG, 7 points), suggests that he is meshing well with the team and is potentially on his way to a successful tenure in Los Angeles. 

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