LeBron's faith in Lakers' defense intact despite Dubs drubbing - ESPN

SAN FRANCISCO — The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a Golden State Warriors team that has hit 42 3-pointers through the first two games of their second-round series, setting a league record for most 3s hit by any team through the opening two games of a playoff round.

They are trying to stop a Warriors squad that, in Thursday's 127-100 Game 2 win, had not one, but two 40-point quarters — the first time that's happened in franchise history. And for a team that's won four championships in the past eight seasons, that's saying something.

They are attempting to thwart the best-shooting backcourt ever assembled, with both future Hall of Famers locked in with Klay Thompson scoring 30 points through three quarters on 8-for-11 shooting from 3 and Stephen Curry finishing with 20 points and 12 assists to even the series.

Despite the challenge, LeBron James said the Lakers — who turned around their season after the trade deadline by turning up their defense — are not going to let their defensive standards slip because of the opponent.

«We're still the best defensive team in the league, if not one of them,» James said. «So that doesn't change. That's what we hang our hats on.… That doesn't stop no matter who we're playing against.»

Even with the Warriors' explosive night, L.A. still has the second-best defensive rating out of the eight teams remaining in the playoffs, allowing 106.5 points per 100 possessions. Only the New York Knicks are better (105.9).

But Thursday was a letdown, obviously.

L.A. led by seven after the first quarter, with James scoring 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting.

And then the wheels came off.

Golden State blitzed the Lakers in the second and third quarters, outscoring them 84-47.

In 32 quarters of basketball this