Breaking News: The Warriors have fallen into the trap of failing to trap the box against the Lakers, but what the heck?

In what was an anticipated clash between two of the NBA’s most storied franchises, the Golden State Warriors’ playoff hopes appear to be unraveling against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Warriors, a team known for their fast-paced offense, deadly three-point shooting, and impeccable ball movement, have found themselves in a precarious situation against the Lakers, who seem to have expertly countered the Warriors’ strengths. One of the most glaring issues in this series has been Golden State’s inability to effectively trap the box on defense—something that has traditionally been a weakness for the Warriors, but one they have managed to mask over the years due to their high-powered offense.

So, what exactly is the “trap of failing to trap the box” and why is it causing such an issue for the Warriors? How has a seemingly simple defensive adjustment become the focal point of their struggles against the Lakers? And perhaps the most important question of all: What the heck is going on with Golden State?

The Trap of Failing to Trap the Box: Understanding the Concept

Before diving into the specifics of how this issue is affecting the Warriors, it’s important to understand what the “trap of failing to trap the box” refers to. In basketball, the term “trap” generally refers to a defensive strategy in which two defenders team up to pressure the ball handler in order to force a turnover or create a difficult shot. Trapping the box, specifically, is a term that can be used to describe a form of defense designed to prevent easy interior scoring or post play by double-teaming a player in the low post or near the basket, often referred to as “the box” area.

For the Warriors, this strategy should be a staple of their defense. The problem, however, lies in their inconsistency in executing this defensive system, particularly against a team like the Lakers that thrives on physicality and interior dominance. The Lakers’ combination of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and other strong, versatile players like Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves, who are capable of scoring inside, has exploited Golden State’s defensive lapses.

Against a team like the Lakers, whose primary focus is often getting the ball to the paint and capitalizing on mismatches in the post, failing to trap the box effectively can lead to a variety of problems. The Warriors have struggled to match the Lakers’ physicality, and their lack of a consistent trap in the paint has allowed players like Davis to impose their will, score efficiently, and create open shots for teammates. This opens up the floor for shooters like Reaves and Hachimura, who have been able to thrive when the Warriors are unable to contain the Lakers’ inside presence.

The Warriors’ Defense: A System Built on Switching but Not Trapping

Golden State’s defensive philosophy has been built on a combination of switching and off-ball movement, rather than traditional trapping or zone schemes. Under Steve Kerr, the Warriors have been known for their “switch-everything” defense, relying on their quickness, intelligence, and versatility to disrupt opposing offenses. The problem, however, is that switching defenses are often vulnerable when teams force mismatches inside or establish a dominant low-post presence, something the Lakers have been able to do with regularity.

The Warriors’ system depends on the ability of their big men to switch on pick-and-rolls, and their perimeter defenders to stay in front of opposing players. This defensive setup works well when facing teams with a heavy reliance on perimeter shooting, but when going up against a team like the Lakers, whose offense is built around dominant inside play and attacking the basket, the Warriors’ defensive scheme has been exposed.

The Lakers have made it a point to attack the Warriors’ big men—Kevon Looney, Draymond Green, and JaMychal Green—on the inside, knowing that Golden State’s defenders are not always in the right position to effectively trap or block shots in the paint. When the Warriors fail to execute the trap in the box, the Lakers can break down their defense with ease. Davis, in particular, has been an immovable force in the post, and LeBron James has demonstrated his uncanny ability to drive through defenses, either finishing at the rim or drawing defenders and finding open teammates.

The lack of defensive pressure on the ball inside, combined with a failure to trap effectively, allows the Lakers to dictate the pace of the game. The Warriors, known for their offensive firepower, struggle to keep up when they cannot control the tempo of the game and force turnovers or missed shots. Instead, they’ve found themselves playing catch-up, unable to stop the Lakers from dominating in the paint.

The Impact of the Warriors’ Perimeter Focus

The Warriors’ focus on three-point shooting and perimeter play has been one of their defining characteristics over the past decade. They are built around the offensive brilliance of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, and their ability to spread the floor and create opportunities through ball movement and shooting range is unrivaled. However, this offensive system places a lot of emphasis on perimeter play, leaving the interior defense exposed when things aren’t going according to plan.

In this particular series against the Lakers, the Warriors have fallen into the trap of prioritizing their offensive philosophy over the necessity of interior defense. While they’ve attempted to double down on their outside shooting to keep pace with the Lakers, the lack of attention to the paint has become glaring. As a result, the Lakers have been able to dominate in the post, which in turn opens up opportunities for their shooters on the outside. The Warriors are caught in a vicious cycle: they can’t stop the Lakers’ inside attack, which creates open perimeter shots, but they also struggle to hit their own shots when their defense is disjointed and they’re forced to play at a slower pace.

Curry and Thompson, the Warriors’ two greatest offensive weapons, are both heavily reliant on the three-point shot, which makes them susceptible to cold streaks. When the Lakers are able to dominate the paint, forcing the Warriors to shift focus defensively, Golden State’s shooters find themselves on the back foot. It’s an imbalance that has been exposed by the Lakers’ physicality and size, something that has been amplified in this series due to the Warriors’ inability to handle the Lakers’ interior play.

The Lakers’ Physicality and Adjustment

The Lakers, for their part, have made excellent adjustments to exploit the Warriors’ weaknesses. LeBron James has always been an elite basketball IQ player, and his ability to read the Warriors’ defense and exploit mismatches has been on full display. With Anthony Davis providing the dominant inside presence, LeBron has been able to control the tempo of games, finding opportunities for himself and others to capitalize on Golden State’s defensive lapses.

Lakers head coach Darvin Ham has also been key in orchestrating this physical assault on the Warriors. By focusing on getting the ball inside and attacking the basket, Ham has forced the Warriors to shift their defensive strategy away from their usual perimeter-focused defense. The Lakers’ inside-out attack has put pressure on Golden State’s interior defense, and the Warriors have struggled to counter it with their own adjustments.

Davis has been a focal point in this, dominating both ends of the floor. When Davis isn’t scoring in the post, he’s controlling the boards and affecting shots with his rim protection. The Warriors’ lack of a traditional rim protector has made it difficult for them to challenge Davis effectively. The Lakers have managed to create mismatches by isolating Davis in the post, which forces Golden State to overcommit defensively or leave shooters open on the perimeter. The Warriors, unable to trap the box or slow down the Lakers’ inside attack, are left scrambling.

What the Heck Is Going On?

The phrase “what the heck?” has been echoing throughout the Warriors’ fanbase and across social media since the team’s struggles against the Lakers became evident. Golden State, a team with championship pedigree, has been caught off guard by their inability to adjust to the Lakers’ physical play and dominate in the paint. Warriors fans are baffled by the team’s struggles, particularly when it comes to their inability to execute the simple defensive strategy of trapping the box.

At the heart of this confusion lies the disparity between Golden State’s identity as an offensive juggernaut and their growing vulnerability to a team like the Lakers that thrives on size, physicality, and attacking the basket. While the Warriors are known for their high-scoring games and incredible perimeter shooting, they are now facing a team that has made them uncomfortable in every aspect of the game. Whether it’s LeBron’s leadership or Davis’ presence, the Warriors have been outmuscled and outplayed in ways they didn’t expect.

Golden State’s challenge is simple but profound: how do they adjust to defend against an inside-heavy offense while still keeping their explosive perimeter game intact? The failure to trap the box has left them exposed, and unless they can find a way to address this defensive gap, their hopes of advancing in the playoffs will continue to dwindle.