The Los Angeles Lakers used their preseason finale against the Denver Nuggets to test a defense-heavy starting look, but the early signs were not encouraging. Matisse Thybulle started over Quentin Grimes, and after five minutes the Lakers were already trailing 17-8 before JJ Redick moved quickly to change course.
That is the central takeaway from a game that offered a clear view of the balance Redick is trying to strike. The Lakers can lean into defense, but they also need enough offense to survive the moments when Luka Doncic is forced into tougher possessions and the floor spacing tightens.
Redick’s early change told the story
Once Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili came off the bench, the Lakers got going. Redick then went back to the starting lineup in the second quarter for 105 seconds, but the initial damage had already been done.
The starting group finished the half as a minus-nine in seven minutes of action. That is the kind of stretch that quickly sharpens the debate over whether a defense-first lineup can truly hold up against an opponent that is ready to press every weak spot.
Why the offensive balance matters
The concern for the Lakers is simple enough. Thybulle brings defense, but little else beyond spot-up shooting, and that makes it harder to play through the kinds of half-court possessions that matter when Doncic is being crowded and doubled.
Doncic had five first-half turnovers and did not return after halftime. He has led the NBA in scoring in two of the last three years, so Denver’s willingness to load up on him is no surprise, but it does underline why the Lakers need cleaner spacing and more reliable secondary offense around him.
For now, this was less about one preseason result than a useful warning. The Lakers can start games with more defense-minded personnel, but this showed how quickly the offense can bog down if Grimes is not part of the opening equation. The next step is proving that the lineup can do both jobs at once.
