No. 5: Shorthanded Lakers
Sometimes things break in a positive way for a team, sometimes they are negative. This season, things in the player availability department definitely fell in favor of the Spurs.
The Lakers never had their full allotment of players against the Spurs this season. The first two meetings took place before the organization signed Tyson Chandler, who has helped turn things around defensively.
In addition, Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram also missed the first matchup because of their suspensions. Rondo returned for the second matchup, but that was the last game Ingram served in his suspension.
Fast forward to the two most recent meetings, Chandler was on the court but the team was once again without Rondo and Ingram. Rondo is still recovering from his broken hand suffered on Nov. 14. Ingram was ready to go but lasted only five minutes in the third game before spraining his ankle after LaMarcus Aldridge closed out underneath him.
Aldridge was assessed a Flagrant-1 for his foul and Ingram was unable to return to the game. He also missed the final matchup recovering. It was a move that upset Lakers fans, as Aldridge’s intentions came into question as he looked to purposely step underneath LeBron James later on in the game.
LaMarcus Aldridge injured Brandon Ingram purposely and tried the same with LeBron. –Lakers players should watch out tonight, NBA should notice his dirty tactics.
Posted by Lakers Nation Philippines on Friday, December 7, 2018
Had the Lakers been at full strength for any of these games, it is fair to wonder if the games would have turned out differently. Without Ingram, the Lakers’ defense, especially on the perimeter, faltered.