The Lakers had an opportunity to climb above .500 on Friday night, but they collapsed defensively in an 18-point home loss to the reeling Nets, writes Khobi Price of The Orange County Register. The defeat, coming off back-to-back wins against Oklahoma City and Dallas, continues a recent pattern of mixing great games with poor performances. Anthony Davis called the loss “more frustrating than concerning,” but he was unhappy with the breakdowns that allowed Brooklyn to score 102 points over the final three quarters.
“Kind of been like a constant thing for us, but like I said, when you get two, you’re trying to find a rhythm and you have two great games on both sides of the floor,” Davis said. “And then you kind of just revert back in the second half of this game and practically play no defense against these guys. Guys are getting wide-open shots, wide-open layups, wide-open dunks, we’re fouling, wasn’t rebounding. Everything on the defensive end we just didn’t do. And allowed them guys to get into rhythm and now you’re playing with confidence and the rims are a lot bigger for those guys.”
The Lakers have been inconsistent since winning the in-season tournament six weeks ago, and they’re currently on the edge of the play-in tourney with a 21-22 record. Coach Darvin Ham has tinkered with the starting lineup and the overall rotation, but he said Friday that the best solution is for everyone to play better.
“We’ll watch this game and make it more about our principles and, again, the type of team we want to be,” he said. “It’s over for the excuses, man. We gotta play basketball.”
There’s more on the Lakers:
- In a separate Orange County Register story, Rui Hachimura tells Price that he’s still feeling some effects from a calf injury that forced him to miss time earlier this month. “My calf is still not 100%, but it’s been great,” Hachimura said after Friday’s shootaround. “I’m moving well.”
- On the Hoop Collective podcast (video link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Bobby Marks discuss ways the Lakers could trade for Hawks guard Dejounte Murray and still avoid the luxury tax. Windhorst suggests L.A. may be more willing to part with a future first-round pick in a deal that saves the team money.
- Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times wonders if playing on the same NBA team as his son is still a priority for LeBron James. LeBron has a $51.4MM player option for next season, and Hernandez states that the organization should factor any uncertainty about his future into its decisions at the trade deadline.
LeBron James son isn’t that good. He is SG(who isn’t a strong shooter) inside a PG body(and he isn’t a PG). He isn’t nba material and right now looks like a late 2nd/UDFA. He would be best to stay in school and work on his game.
I doubt a 2nd round pick would be used on him. maybe joining the G league team. he should stay in school and get healthy before even thinking of playing next year.
LeBron says he wants to play on the same team as his son. teams like Detroit with numerous 2nd round picks might take Bronny to see if LeBron follows his son to Detroit on a team friendly deal. Worth the risk.
Bronny has been in school working on his game fir the last 7 years… what’s another year or two gonna do, besides bring 60-120 more guys to be drafted?
Practically every kid drafted from the 5th overall pick to the 60th will play in the GLeague at some point. Are we telling all those kids that will be drafted that they need to stay in school and work on their game, or just Bronny?
A lot of players come out of college too soon. Bronny is obviously not ready if he is not standing out in college. There is a huge leap between college and the NBA that is why there is a G league where players can learn to get ready. So you rather have him play the next 3 years in G league to improve his game
Unfortunately his name affects all this. He does need more development. But I doubt he gets it in college. I’d be more concerned about his health. NBA is not going anywhere.
Street Clothes is finally turning into Sports Clothes this year. Of course with his history he may come down any moment and Lakers season officially over. I mean, make no mistake, without Davis Lakers would be bottom five not in the west but in the whole league
Unfathomable that Jeanie is looking after her wallet today amongst all things
In the last NBA season, the Lakers had $160M of operating income. That was second highest in the NBA with only the NY Knicks having a slightly higher amount of operating income. That is income after expenses.
LeBron to the Clippers???
What if the Lakers continue to slide?
What if LeBron wants to stay in LA and join a super team?
What if LeBron wants to join Ty Lue?
The Clippers have the pieces…
Reese’s pieces?
It could happen…
Mann, Hyland, Boston, Brown, 2 picks…
Wee short on salary qualifications there
Hyland has a cool name too on top of those 2nd rd picks, you just might be onto something if the NBA allowed it
Good one …..
LBJ is too old. He’s gone after next season. He just wants to play a year with his son and that will be next year.
Lebron Lebron nobody cares. Only a fool would respect him. Everyone I know is enjoying his self induced misery.
Ham has no X and O’s.
Got out-coached yesterday vs. the Nets (again).
More explicit than that, impossible.
Making the players look foolish.
They just aren’t good.
LeBron, Russell and Reaves play poor defense last night
Lakers get Bruce Brown, Caruso
Raptors get DLo and Picks from Bulls and picks from Lakers
Bulls get Rui and Lakers 2029 unprotected First
Fillers if needed
I’m really surprised Russell hasn’t peaked in LA. I thought that’s what he always wanted. Seems like a player content with an NBA contract.
Ha ha ha ha. Remember when everyone crowned the lakers the winners of the offseason?
And tonight, a home game vs the 12-29 Blazers. Back to .500, bfd!
I won’t be surprised to see the Lakers lose against the Blazers. LA is just a bad team.