Los Angeles Lakers: Six lessons from loss to Houston Rockets

HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 19: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets celebrates after the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 19, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Brandon Ingram was late to the party…But he showed up and showed out!

I’m not going to even mention what he did for the first three and a half quarters because…

He was terrible! I mean really bad!

But in crunch time! Dude was flat-out balling!

Ingram scored 21 points (11 in overtime) and basically kept the Lakers in the game in the game’s extra five minutes. He also added 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Sure he had 6 turnovers but we are not going to talk about the first three quarters.

Let’s talk overtime because he couldn’t miss. He just gave the Rockets the business matching the Rockets’ every bucket.

But Brandon Ingram has to put this together for 48 minutes. Games like this is why the Lakers fans either love him or can’t stand him. He can show flashes of being the team’s best player based on his massive potential, but he can disappear to the point you would think he’s in the NBA witness protection program. He accomplished both in the same game against Houston!

The Lakers have to make a move in my opinion to have a legitimate shot at the playoffs. Once an “untouchable” player to the front office, that shine is gone with the emergence of Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball. If he doesn’t want to leave Lakers Nation, he has got to get consistent.

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