The Los Angeles Lakers were able to snap their losing streak against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night. Check out our four lessons from the game!
The Los Angeles Lakers are in a state of turmoil right now. After being the laughingstock of the NBA for the past 48 hours, losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the worst team in the NBA on Sunday night ending their 12-game losing streak, the Chicago Bulls came into Staples Center looking to end their seven-game losing streak.
No rest for the weary for the Lakers, they play the worst team in the Cavs on Sunday, on Tuesday in comes the second worst team in the NBA, the Chicago Bulls.
I mean the Staples Center is the place for tanking teams to end losing streaks right? The New York Knicks ended their eight-game losing streak not too long ago. After the Lakers lost to the Cavs, this game turned into a must win for the franchise and Luke Walton’s job, who is now on the proverbial hot seat. Anyone who thinks different…okay.
As this piece is being read, this game takes about seven rows of seats back from the real storylines going on in Laker land! The news about LeBron James’ evaluation comes out and more rumors of Walton’s tenure as the Lakers Head Coach.
Let’s just say it’s complicated, to say the least.
The Los Angeles Lakers ended up winning this game 107-100 in a game so bad that I was challenged by my father, Walter Agers to make this postgame entertaining. Well it’s going to take some work because this game was absolutely bad on both sides. Well somebody had to win.
I want to give a special shout out to Pippen Ain’t Easy, the Chicago Bulls website who also have the challenge of doing a post game as well. Good luck!
🎥 Lakers hold on late and close out tonight's win over the Bulls, 107-100 #LakersWin pic.twitter.com/w0FJKX1ABF
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 16, 2019
For a team whose coach is in so much trouble that it is rumored that Jeanie Buss is the only person standing between Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka’s wishes to send him to the unemployment line, the Lakers came out listless, again.
But not because Luke Walton did not make adjustments.
Tyson Chandler and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were called up to the starting lineup, replacing Josh Hart and JaVale McGee. One of these moves I could understand (KCP for Hart) and the other (Chandler for McGee? More on that later…stay tuned!).
The Lakers finished the first quarter up 19-18 and the halftime score was 44-43. My point? I think the Lakers could have easily lost to any other team last night. The Bulls dysfunction makes what’s going on with the Lakers actually enjoyable.
The second half was when the Lakers came out and took the game over. With the game tied at 48 (No typo!) with 9:24 remaining the Lakers went on a 13-7 run including eight straight to get some type of lead. Guess who was the catalyst?
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Lonzo Ball.
He led the charge with 11 straight points which included three 3-pointers.
"“He’s got a knack for hitting big shots. He’s not afraid to knock down a 3 when we needed it,” Lakers coach Luke Walton said. “What is great is seeing him more confident in getting to the rim. He can draw contact but still be able to finish.”"
Believe it or not, the Lakers found a way to take the joy out of a win. First, the Lakers blew an 18-point lead in the 4th quarter and let it dwindle down to five. A couple of KCP free throws late sealed the win.
Two, there is a fun promotion in the Staples Center. If the Lakers hold an opponent under 100 points, the crowd get free tacos. Man the Lakers had the Bulls at 98 points with time running down and this happens.
I’m literally laughing as I write this because Ivica Zubac fouled a three-point shooter. The Chicago Bulls couldn’t throw the ball in the Pacific Ocean neck-deep all night plus Harrison just threw the ball at the basket facing the other way! But what really was funny was the second clip where you can hear the fan screaming at the Bulls over them messing up the chance to get the tacos! The Bulls ended up making two of the three free throws…no tacos.
A special shout out to the “Players Only” crew on NBA TV, being Brendan Haywood, Isiah Thomas and Derek Fisher. They were more fun than the game. ANYONE that can get Rafael De La Ghetto reference into an NBA game…
…needs their own show!!! Bless you, guys!!!
Let’s get to it.
Lake Show Life lessons!