Every NBA season brings its share of ups and downs, and the Los Angeles Lakers are currently experiencing a difficult stretch. LeBron James and the team are focusing on improving their defense in an effort to regain momentum in a tightly packed Western Conference.

After a six-game winning streak, the Lakers have now dropped four of their last five games, including tough losses to the Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets, and Phoenix Suns. These setbacks have forced the team to reassess their approach and make adjustments moving forward.

With another loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, the Lakers now face a challenging four-game road trip. The schedule only gets more difficult, and James emphasized the importance of team cohesion during this tough stretch.

“You got to figure it out,” he said. “Lean on each other. If you don’t have it, you don’t have the energy, lean on the guy next to you. So it’s gonna be a tough road trip first starting Utah, back-to-back Minnesota, Miami and then Atlanta, last game of the trip. So we gotta be ready to go.”

L.A. is currently 4-5 on the road and faces tough opponents in the upcoming games. The Timberwolves will seek revenge after Opening Night, while the Heat, led by Jimmy Butler, are a gritty team, and the Hawks are coming off a strong stretch of victories.

Still, each of these matchups is winnable. The road trip begins with a crucial game against a banged-up Utah Jazz squad on Sunday. After a couple of disappointing losses, the Lakers need to take advantage of this opportunity to get back on track.

Road games have been a challenge for the Lakers this season, and their bench production has often been lacking. However, with D’Angelo Russell showing signs of offensive improvement, his ability to continue providing scoring depth will be vital.

James’ call for teammates to lean on each other will be a key theme over the next week. It will be interesting to see how the team responds and whether this mentality helps them turn things around.