NBA clubs typically use the preseason to determine what lineup combinations, plays, and general strategy work best for them. This is the ideal moment for teams to practice whatever they have been working on during training camp. As a result, now is also the moment for teams, like the Los Angeles Lakers, to recognize which aspect of the game requires more focus in order to get it together before games start to count toward the team’s record.

Being the wise leader that he is, head coach Darvin Ham is aware of the areas in which his Lakers need to improve, particularly in the wake of a humiliating 123-100 preseason setback to the Phoenix Suns. Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports that Ham made the point that the squad still needs to improve significantly on the defensive end of the court.

It’s only a matter of time until the Lakers improve their defensive performance, given the roster. While Anthony Davis was excellent on Thursday night, the squad as a whole needs to be more focused and unified in order to have a superior defensive team.

The Lakers’ defense collapsed in the middle of the third quarter against the Suns; once Derrick Rose, LeBron James, and the other starters left the court, their defense fell asleep, allowing the Suns to go on a 25-8 run to take the lead.

Darvin Ham will now understand that using defensive units led by Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes might not be the best idea, but that’s precisely the purpose of preseason training: to instill in the club some tough lessons before the regular season begins.