The young Lakers have lost quite a few games in the month of December. For this reason and others, it is clear that anxiety is in the air.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ play of late has unfortunately been reminiscent of the weather this time of year brings. Given their current five game losing streak, to say they are cold would not be cutting it.
It is understood that starters such as Brook Lopez and Lonzo Ball have missed time due to injuries. Nevertheless, injuries are a problem many teams face at some point during the course of a season. Therefore, no one is going to feel too bad for the Lakers in that respect.
The real problems extend far beyond this at the moment, though. If this was the main culprit for their recent struggles, there would not be as much need to worry.
Alas, the need to worry is there right now. While many would argue these Lakers are superior to last year’s, the standings show otherwise.
Part of why Los Angeles is 11-23 is because they have seemingly forgotten how to play defense. This is surprising to say the least since the ball club was excelling on this end for quite a while. In fact, for much of the year they were a top-10 team defensively.
However, things have been different for the last few weeks. The same energy has not been there and the Lakers have oftentimes looked sluggish. Via what Drew Garrison of SB Nation reported, Brandon Ingram discerns how rocky the road has been in recent memory.
"“Kinda in a dry spell on the defensive end,” Ingram said as he reflected on the losing streak. “I think tonight and the past few games, guys and teams have hit us in the mouth, and I don’t think we’ve done a good job of responding.”"
The second-year forward is correct in terms of the dry spell notion. The sad part is that the purple-and-gold have struggled for more than a few games defensively. It has been an issue all month long, leading to heightened tension.
Certainly, the team’s tougher schedule at points has factored into the equation. In spite of that truth, the inadequate “D” has started to become a pattern.
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The pesky pattern is frustrating because, as was said, the Lakers were one of the league’s best to start the campaign. To say the same now would be a bit of a stretch.
Moreover, the minutes distribution has been a topic of discussion all year long. Granted it is extremely hard to please everyone, head coach Luke Walton has had some odd rotations at times.
The player who has suffered the most has hands down been Julius Randle. Randle is only getting about 22 minutes a night despite him being perhaps the best two-way player L.A. has.
The power forward’s per 36 minutes stats further indicate his overall impact this year. The former Kentucky Wildcat is averaging a little over 20/10, which is mighty impressive.
It is not to assert that Walton’s job has been a piece of cake, though. Larry Nance Jr. and Kyle Kuzma are every bit as deserving when it comes to playing time. On Friday, Randle just happened to be fortunate enough to not have to come off the pine.
This was a first for Julius this year, though, and it is quite likely that he remains confused at times as to why he is not out there as often.
Jordan Clarkson has been another guy who feels similarly. Albeit he has been given starter’s minutes in Ball’s absence, the combo guard is barely playing more than Randle.
Clarkson’s case is just as curious for the reason that he has been productive on a regular basis. He simply knows how to get buckets for the Lakers when they need them.
Although Randle and Clarkson have indeed been productive, their smaller roles seem to suggest that something bigger is lurking. By this point in time it is not even too large of a shocker. Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reflects on what might be on the horizon for the 16-time champs.
"[Magic] Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka have been refreshingly open about their summer plans, almost certainly in part because they wanted to preemptively explain away another losing season. The downside is that the Lakers know some of them won’t be back if the offseason unfolds as the front office hopes, with forward Julius Randle and guard Jordan Clarkson looking like the most likely to depart."
Some fans may feel queasy upon hearing this. Although that may be so, the whirlwind of rumors are nothing new. Provided that the Lakers are hoping to sign one or two stars this summer, having the cap space is a necessity.
At the same time, it does not mean the consistent buzz has been something the team loves. As time has progressed, the squad appears to not always be there mentally. That being said, the aforementioned defensive struggles may very well link to the dizzying array of rumors.
Speculation, too, is not going to typically fuel a group that is so young. Whether said speculation stems from hearing whispers or seeing snippets on social media, it is bound to be emotionally tough.
Nonetheless, basketball is a business let alone a game. Components like these contribute to why the California team recently held a team meeting. On Thursday, Walton thought it would be wise to go this route in lieu of practice.
Courtesy of Matthew Moreno of Lakers Nation, Ingram admitted that “the business of the organization” was discussed during the correspondence.
Los Angeles Lakers
Ideally, discussing such a delicate topic gave certain players a greater sense of comfort. While brutal sincerity can be difficult for higher-ups, displaying such a posture is too crucial.
At any rate, the pulses of some of the Lakers’ players are still probably a bit unsafe right now. One can surmise that some are curious if they will even be wearing a purple-and-gold jersey in the near future.
The curiosity is sensible by virtue of Magic’s unwavering commitment to this coming summer. Due to the former point guard’s focus on 2018, it is fair to say that the future has led to there being a lack of focus on the part of the team.
In December the L.A. Lakers have simply not been playing at a good clip. There are definitely patches that need to be attended to, which is precisely why Luke held the team meeting.
Kuzma is one Laker who has a firm grasp on the pickle his team is in. Per what Moreno reproduced, “Kuz” summed up the central objective of the gathering.
"“Hopefully it helps get us on the right page. That was the main focus for that meeting,” Kuzma said. “I think we’re heading towards being on the same page, so I think that’s what we got out of it.”"
The meeting is not going to serve as an instant antidote. To claim otherwise would be laughable. Success does not manifest itself in that way.
Despite the fact that things will not change quickly, Los Angeles does need to stumble on some kind of happy medium. Meetings do not transpire without there being a valid reason or two behind them.
Suffice to say, there is a growing amount of tension in Los Angeles. One can only hope that these mental blocks gradually fade away or that the team’s New Year’s resolution entails more of a winning attitude.
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The ball club is heavily dependent on what occurs between now and the end of 82 games. How the remaining months are spent is entirely up to them. In a perfect world, fans can only hope that the waters will become calmer instead of the opposite.