After opening their four-game road trip on Sunday with a win in Utah, the Lakers lost three consecutive games, including blowouts in Minnesota and Miami and an overtime heart-breaker in Atlanta on Friday. LeBron James told reporters after the latest loss that L.A.’s lack of depth is being tested, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, who notes that the Lakers’ bench was outscored 65-17 last night.
“Mismatching with lineups, we’re trying to figure out ways, obviously,” James said. “So it’s very challenging. We don’t have much room for error. … It’s big, big, big, big pieces.”
Austin Reaves, Jaxson Hayes, Christian Wood and Jarred Vanderbilt were all inactive on Friday. Reaves, the biggest absence on the road trip in terms of point production, returned to L.A. before Friday’s game to receive treatment for a pelvic bruise. He has averaged 16.7 points and 4.8 assists this season across 19 games (all starts).
“He’s like a connector for our offense, but he’s also a scorer and a play-maker,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
The Lakers rank in the bottom five in the league in bench points and are going to have to stick with what they have for the time being.
“There’s no cavalry,” Anthony Davis said. “No one feels sorry for us. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. Just got to continue to put our head down and grind and work. Try to get back in the win column on Sunday against Portland. … No game’s going to be easy for us, so we got to go take the win.”
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- Redick switched things up on Friday by starting Gabe Vincent over D’Angelo Russell. Vincent delivered in his second start of the season by recording 12 points and five assists, The Orange County Register’s Khobi Price writes. Those 12 points were Vincent’s most in a Lakers uniform and he’s averaging 9.0 PPG with a 37.5% three-point rate in his last four games. “I just tried to compete on both ends like I always do,” Vincent said. “The ball was in my hands a little more. I tried to create where I could. I tried to find guys where I could. Tried to take care of the ball. I was trying to win. I’m about winning, so I’m pretty frustrated with the loss. But it happens.” Vincent dealt with injury issues for most of last season, but appears to be rounding into form.
- Clippers guard Norman Powell is playing like an All-Star and a Most Improved Player candidate in his 10th season, averaging 23.9 PPG on a scorching 50.7% three-point clip. He has got the Clippers firmly in the Western Conference playoff picture. Powell recently spoke to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto about his ascent, championship experience and his personal battles on and off the court. “I thought about quitting basketball a few times,” Powell said. “I don’t think people really get to hear the dark moments that you go through. I’ve talked about being at the forefront of mental health, and guys like Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan talk about how important it is. People don’t really get to see that side of things.” I recommend checking out the interview in full here.
- After some inconsistent showings in recent games, the Kings scored a season-high 140 points on Friday. Keon Ellis didn’t play on Tuesday and only saw two minutes of action on Thursday, but was inserted back into the rotation on Friday and was a +32 with four steals in 21 minutes. Coach Mike Brown explained Ellis’ playing time fluctuation, according to The Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman. “Starting Malik [Monk], he’s going to command more minutes,” Brown said. “We’re trying to play Kevin [Huerter] more. We’re trying to be a little bigger with Isaac [Jones] and Jae [Crowder]. So there hasn’t been a ton of minutes. Now, I can take minutes away from one of those guys to try to get him out on the floor. But it’s just, right now, it’s a minutes thing, based on who I’m playing.“
If not injured, Lakers are overachieved so far
Now Lakers are 10th seed because Reaves missed 4 games
Young’s 3 to take the lead, followed by Brawny Sensation’s desperation heave that found no rim is catapulted into the TOP 10 BEST BACK TO BACK SEQUENCES IN CRUNCH TIME of the young 2024-25 NBA season.
I don’t mean to be dramatic here, but if Mike Brown can’t figure out that this team looks 10x better with Keon getting real minutes, Im going to bash my skull into the concrete
Should I call you an ambulance? We all know Brown doesn’t play Keon enough, even though he is their best or second best defender (when defense is a major issue for the Kings), and shooting like 45% from 3.
My theory, as of now, is that Huerter is being show cased for a potential trade, hopefully a SF/PF that can play defense and shoot a bit.
I’ve said that since they announced Huerter was going to start in the first game. The problem is that Huerter is actively tanking any value you had. If they want to make a meaningful deal at this point, they have to include Murray who has also destroyed his value.
Sorry, to burst your bubble, but Keon is not all that !! There is a reason every team in the league did not draft him and they are Not going to make someone making $17m per year for him to play. Not happenning !!
Lol you haven’t watched a single Kings game in the last 2 years
I have watched every game and sat in the arena a few times, that doesn’t mean I Have to be impressed, because you think you know everything. You don’t know S*** !! You don’t even know who I am. I’ve had season tickets since they moved here, Except for this new Arena. They are N O T going to start a player that was Never drafted over someone making $17m, period !! Don’t like it, Go cry me a River !!
Is that why the team’s best lineups by net rating feature Keon and not Huerter or anyone else? Or are you going to tell us that both the eye test AND stats are wrong here?
Something fishy about the Reaves situation. Does he want to be in LA?
He does want to be in LA since he turned down offers after the draft to sign with the Lakers. He might feel under paid because the way the Lakers played game with his during free agency.
He “did” want to be in LA. Now it isn’t so clear. Unless you know him personally?
the story goes he was going to be a late round draft picks but told teams he wanted to have a guaranteed contact if he was going to be drafted. There was rumblings among some teams that he already had a deal in place to play for the lakers if not drafted. so what is fishy about his situation? did he tell you something?
That was years ago at this point. Not really relevant.
Played games with him ??
100% incorrect , they actually gave him a player option the last year that they didn’t even have to as a kind gesture
They couldn’t have given him another dime under the cba , the spurs are to blame for not submitting a higher offer if anything
I think it’s about time you start reading the informative articles above before you post arc , you haven’t learned a thing here in 7 years , bit impressive tbh
Lakers made it known that if any team made him an offer they would match it on the last day they could. Spurs wanted to offer but that meant they couldn’t do anything for a long time. No trades or signings. Human rain delay you are always off on everything. Stick to the WNBA.
Lebron and Bronny for Wiggins and Podz who says no?
Lakers are not trading Lebron because he is their cash cow.
Nobody because no one listens to your takes
So the Lakers go throw away this season? If they do that, they might as well trade AD as well and get any picks they can back. Lakers don’t tank.