The LA Lakers were eliminated in the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup on Wednesday by the San Antonio Spurs. The team had a full roster against the Spurs, but they couldn't overcome the 132-119 loss. It was clear that the Lakers struggled to control San Antonio on defense.They managed four steals in the game and were unable to maintain their lead over the Spurs. San Antonio, on the other hand, had nine steals and played aggressively on defense. That was one of the main reasons LA struggled against the Texas team, which didn't have Victor Wembanyama.Following the game, LeBron James was asked how the team would address the issue. However, James wasn't worried and believed they could fix their on-floor lapses soon.“I think, defensively, we understand that on-ball attack is very important,” James said. “But first game back in transition, we can’t give up a lot of transition points as we did tonight. And then, being able to contain guys off the dribble.“We will continue to get better with that, more film, more communication. Ultimately, just helping each other out.”James tried to set a defensive tone for the Lakers with his three blocks. Unfortunately for the team, that wasn't enough. The four-time champion finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and eight steals.While he's starting to find himself on offense, the team needs him to take over on defense. The next game for LA will be Sunday against the Phoenix Suns, a team they've only met once so far. The last time they played, Phoenix spoiled LA's night with a 125-108 win.Luka Doncic wants the Lakers to improve their defense after losing to the SpursThe LA Lakers need to fix their defensive lapses before they worsen. Their star, Luka Doncic, is aware that addressing the problem quickly will make them a better team. Although they have a 17-7 record, Doncic doesn't want the team to be complacent.“We know in the NBA it’s 82 games. So, I would say we got time, but we need to figure it out pretty quickly,” Doncic said via The Athletic's Dan Woike. “Our record is pretty good, 17-7, that’s pretty good to start. But I feel like we can be so much better.”Doncic tried to contribute on defense against the Spurs. However, he already has a heavy workload on offense. The Slovenian sensation finished with 35 points, five rebounds and eight assists. He also made the most of his trips to the charity stripe, knocking down 71.4% of his 14 attempts.While the defensive lapses aren't severe yet, the Lakers want to address them early in the season.