JJ Redick, the mathematically minded Lakers coach, knows the sample size is too small as the Lakers enter their third week of the season. Still, 27th in anything is probably at least a little concerning.

Through six games, that’s where Redick’s team ranks in terms of defensive efficiency, a stunning statistic considering his team is anchored by one of the NBA’s premier defensive players, Anthony Davis.

“I think we can be a really good defensive team,” Redick said before Monday’s game against the Detroit Pistons. “I’m confident that if we get a bigger sample size, we won’t be 27th in the league.”

After the first half of game seven it was probably even worse.

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Forget that the Pistons had only won twice this season, that they were stuck in the mud during a rebuild with no real end in sight. Forget that they played in Brooklyn the day before, while the Lakers were enjoying time off after their win in Toronto.

From the moment Monday’s game started, the Lakers’ biggest problems — on the defensive end — were on the court.

The Lakers lost 115-103 to the Pistons, their first loss in Detroit since 2021, after allowing 67 points in the first half and failing to slow their opponent in almost every aspect of the game.

Davis led the Lakers (4-3) with 37 points and nine rebounds. LeBron James added 20 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists. But the Lakers’ bench was outscored 27-10.

The pistons were more powerful on the glass. They were faster in transition. They were more aggressive towards the basket. And even though they were freezing, they were more willing to make three-point shots.

The early problems were severe enough to keep the Lakers climbing uphill for almost the entire game, a climb they couldn’t make.

Redick tightened his rotation in the second half. Cam Reddish replaced Max Christie and rookie Dalton Knecht did not play after the second quarter.

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The Pistons (3-5) finished with 11 more shots, 18 rebounds, nine more second-chance points and six more points in the paint.

The loss to Detroit left the Lakers on a five-game losing streak.

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.