Rui Hachimura Points to Ball Movement as Lakers’ Issue Against Elite Teams

The Los Angeles Lakers continue to search for answers against the NBA’s best defenses—and Rui Hachimura believes the solution is straightforward.

It has been months since the Lakers defeated a top-four team from either conference. Their last such win came in January against the Denver Nuggets—a game in which Nikola Jokić did not play.

Since then, Los Angeles has been outmatched by contenders including the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and Boston Celtics. The issue has not simply been losses—it has been the manner in which they occurred. Each of those opponents ranks among the league’s top defensive units, and the Lakers’ offense has stalled under pressure.

Hachimura: “We Got to Have Ball Movement”

Hachimura, one of the team’s most efficient spot-up threats at 44.1% from three-point range, acknowledged that the Lakers’ offensive rhythm disappears against disciplined defenses.

“I think it mostly depends on the team we play against,” Hachimura told The Athletic’s Dan Woike after a 111-89 loss to the Celtics. “There are some teams that play really good team defense. Against that, we have to be more of sharing the ball, trusting each other. We got to have ball movement. Like yesterday, last game, they are a really great team, especially off the shift.”

The Lakers forward also went on and emphasized elite teams disrupt isolation-heavy sets with physical, handsy defense—turning rapid decisions into mistakes.

“Against those type of teams we kind of really struggle. We don’t have enough ball movement, so I think those kind of stuff is the key for us to keep a high level offense. Have the ball movement is going to be the key,” he added.

The Numbers Back It Up

The data reinforces his point.

The Lakers rank 21st in the NBA in assists per game at 25.3. In losses to elite teams, those numbers drop significantly:

• 18 assists vs. Boston
• 23 vs. San Antonio
• 21 vs. New York
• 21 vs. Cleveland

In contrast, during a recent four-game winning stretch prior to facing the Orlando Magic, the Lakers averaged 30.4 assists per game. Overall, they average nearly 28 assists in wins but only 21.5 in losses — a gap that ranks near the bottom of the league.

The trend is clear: when the ball moves, the offense flows. When it sticks, elite defenses feast.

For a team with postseason aspirations, the margin for error shrinks against top-tier opponents. Hachimura’s message is not complicated — trust, pass and create easier shots.

Until the Lakers consistently do that against the NBA’s best, their struggles against contenders will likely continue.