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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 reasons Luke Walton is not to blame for recent losses

By Shereen Rayan

PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 3: Head Coach Luke Walton of Los Angeles Lakers talks with media after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 3, 2018 at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 3: Head Coach Luke Walton of Los Angeles Lakers talks with media after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 3, 2018 at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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This is silly talk. Fans are to blame mostly for the recent “admonishing” by Magic Johnson of Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton.

Los Angeles Lakers fans have no patience, even though everyone in the Lakers front office asked for patience before the season began.

They hit social media and started the “Fire Luke Walton” chant, snoozeville. We are ten games into the season at a 4-6 record which could easily be a 6-4 record if not for the players performing.

NBA Coaches get fired way too quickly lately. There has already been one this season, as the Cleveland Cavaliers canned Tyronn Lue.

I would surmise that Magic Johnson felt the pressure when his team lost a few games on the road the past week or so, and cannot blame the star he pays so much.

So, much like pitchers are blamed for losses in baseball and quarterbacks are blamed for losses in football, the fans blame coaches for losses in the NBA. It’s not fair or correct.

These three reasons are why the blame cannot be placed on Luke Walton for the losses early on in the season.

Reason 3: Luke had to deal with suspensions of starters, lack of Lonzo Ball

Just as it seems the Lakers were starting to get it together, the Houston Rockets happened. While Rajon Rondo and the star that should have been a Laker, Chris Paul, were involved in a heated discussion, Spitgate arose.

Some spittle from either Rondo or Carmelo Anthony hit Paul and he decided to shove his hand in Rondo’s face and smush it in his eye. I think it was Melo. If you watch the video, Paul reacts by moving his head sideways and not back, Melo was at his side.

It doesn’t matter what happened, what mattered was that both starters Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo were suspended. That threw a wrench in the lineup and messed with attitudes and chemistry.

What I did see that pleased me was Ingram coming to the defense of his teammates showing, finally, that he is no pushover. What I hated seeing was LeBron coming to the defense of his best friend who was on the opposing team, showing no team loyalty.

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That couldn’t have helped. He should have helped Rondo leave the situation. It just shows he is not fully dedicated yet; I am holding out hope.

When Walton got his starters back, the team avenged their first loss in Portland against the Trail Blazers, 114-110 behind LeBron’s 28 points and seven rebounds. The Lakers had not beaten the Blazers in the last 16 straight meetings.

Rondo hit a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. LeBron hit key free throws at the end of the game to beat the Blazers. And that is how it should be.

Having Lonzo Ball ready to play the day before the season started couldn’t have helped either. In any case, the team is whole once again.

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