Lakers Quit Early, Go All In On Tanking
In an encouraging sign for their future, the Lakers went all in on the tanking plan by playing zero defense, looking dead on offense, exhibiting little team chemistry, tossing up bricks, turning the ball over, mailing it in, having no interest or focus, not caring about winning or as Byron Scott put it, not afraid of losing, in effect, they looked as bored and dazed as Kobe Bryant looked on the bench, as if they were asking themselves why the hell do I have to be here?
If they were paid by the game, every single player would be getting their pay docked.
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They gave up 100 points to a team that is second to last in the NBA in scoring. They gave up 50% three point shooting to a team that can’t throw a pea in the ocean. They made a super-star out of Tim Hardaway Jr. They let a team walk all over them for the first time in 8 years, that’s how long it had been since the Knicks won in Staples Center. Coming into this game, the Knicks had lost 5 in a row.
Phil and Jeanie were courtside snuggling, and Kurt Rambis looked like Old Man Winter, but other than that the game went exactly as it was supposed to. The Lakers cut one precious game off of the Knicks 5 game lead for the NBA’s worst record and looked pretty good at being atrocious so kudos to them for reinforcing everything we know about them.
In a twist, the Lakers played D-league star Jabari Brown and Byron Scott liked him the best, complimenting him on his aggression. Wesley Johnson was Wesley Johnson-like. Jeremy Lin had his usual combination of points, assists, drives, turnovers, free throws and he even threw in a blocked shot for entertainment value. Wayne Ellington was average. Ed Davis played his usual not enough minutes. Jordan Clarkson was bad, no Steve Nash tutoring gems here with just one assist. Even Scott was disappointed. Carlos Boozer dribbled the ball off his foot or his shot was blocked or he got a technical foul. There is no reason to mention Ryan Kelly ever again. Tarik Black had a nice game as did Jordan Hill.
Derek Fisher returned home to Staples Center and wrung out every ounce of pride he could get from his average crew. Andreas Bargnani showed up for once, drilling his threes.
The most entertaining part of the night was the crowd booing the Lakers in quit-mode. As if they expected anything more than this train wreck. Or, when Robert Horry said that the Lakers didn’t respect the Knicks. Byron Scott echoed the same sentiment, that the team thought they had an easy win, which sounds like a joke for a team that has won 17 games.
The worst thing about this game, for those who had to watch it, was that it kept 13,000 people from seeing the Kyrie Irving show as he dropped 57 points on the Spurs.
But, the Lakers, for once, proved exactly who and what they are this season, a pathetic team but one that has the foresight to protect the future, even if most of those on the court against the Knicks won’t be a part of it.