The Los Angeles Lakers had many successful offensive outings throughout the regular season, but they're defensive struggles have been a problem that has ensnared the team for more than just one season. L.A. ranked dead last in defensive rating and third-worst in blocked shots, ranking at the bottom on fast break points allowed and points allowed off turnovers.

With a declining Timofey Mozgov last season and an aging Luol Deng in the roster, the Lakers didn't have enough tools to make a defensive impact, an aspect that forward Larry Nance Jr. is looking to change.

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“We're not going to have the worst defense in the league this year. That's something that I think we're all working on but me especially. We need to fix that,” Nance told Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum Sportsnet. “I want to be on the forefront of the way things change.”

Teammate Julius Randle has also made strides to become a better defender, watching film and working out alongside Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors, who shares the same build of a bruising, undersized power forward.

Nance's athleticism and length has already proven to have an effect on passing lanes and weak side defense, but if his minutes start to pick up, he can easily become a two-way spark plug and lead the Lakers to a better defensive effort with the addition of 7-footer Brook Lopez.