Lakers take ‘a huge step backward’: Why defense and effort stopped L.A.’s

LOS ANGELES — Lakers head coach Darvin Ham didn’t recognize his team’s defensive effort and execution in their 130-116 loss to the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena.

“We took a huge step backward tonight,” Ham said. “It’s the first game where I felt like we weren’t there defensively.”

Entering the contest, the Lakers had the league’s third-best defense behind only the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers, the two best teams in the Eastern Conference. The Lakers’ issues had largely been on the other end of the floor — 3-point shooting, turnovers, free throws, etc.

With back-to-back impressive wins over the Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans, the Lakers sought to generate further momentum with their first three-game win streak since Jan. 7.

The matchup against the Jazz was one of the few games amid the Lakers’ brutal opening schedule that they were favored to win. Despite the gap in records — the Lakers were 2-5 and the Jazz was 6-3 — this matchup was supposed to be a W for Los Angeles, at least according to the oddsmakers.

Instead, the starless Jazz shredded the Lakers, scoring 130 points while shooting 50.5 percent overall and making 17-of-40 3-pointers (42.5 percent). All of those numbers — points allowed, field-goal percentage allowed, 3-pointers allowed, 3-point percentage allowed — are season highs for a Lakers opponent.

There were consistent breakdowns, with the Lakers allowing 30-plus points in three quarters, including 40 points in the first quarter and 75 points in the first half. At halftime, Ham wrote three numbers on the whiteboard: “40,” “35,” and “75,” signaling the jazz’s quarter and halftime point totals.

“We can’t play like that,” Ham said. “We were good during different small stretches but the overall picture that was painted by us defensively sucks.”

As Ham discussed pregame, the Jazz are tricky to plan for because of how many equally dangerous offensive weapons they have. Five Jazz players scored 15-plus points and nine players scored at least six points. It was an all-around effort, with the Jazz whipping the ball around, slicing through the Lakers’ defense off the dribble and then picking them apart for open layups and 3-pointers.

Lauri Markkanen, who has been unleashed in Utah this season, led the way with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Jordan Clarkson added 20 points, Kelly Olynyk had 18 points and Mike Conley finished with 15 points and 10 assists. The Jazz had 31 assists on their 52 field goals and scored 64 points in the paint. The Lakers’ defensive execution was sloppy and their effort was embarrassing.

“Our game plan discipline was terrible,” Anthony Davis said. “Our effort was terrible. These guys got whatever they wanted. … We were doing things we never would do. Leaving guys on an island. Our backside wasn’t talking, protecting, guarding the ball. Every fast break, the defense wasn’t running in transition, which is tough because we played…