Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Takeaways from loss to Philadelphia 76ers

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 10, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Joel Embiid sent a limo for JaVale McGee and Tyson Chandler

The Los Angeles Lakers cannot stop Joel Embiid on a basketball court. Over this season, he has destroyed the Lakers big men overall and what’s worse, the one Lakers big man, Ivica Zubac, that may have had a chance was traded.

Here’s why…

JaVale McGee and Tyson Chandler do not have the offensive post moves for Embiid to even waste energy on the defensive end. Zubac had his limitations but he did command some attention that the big men that are left on the roster can’t.

Joel Embiid scored 37 points on an absurd 12-for-16 from the floor. He could send a video to the Lakers on how to shoot free throws because he hit 11-for-12. In comparison, the Lakers big men shot 1-for-5. Not a good look.

Defensively, the Lakers made Embiid look like a cross between Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O’Neal.

Things were so bad defensively, the Lakers had Kentavious Caldwell-Pope guarding him and did not help him out. Yeah, that guy. The short shooting guard.

Even the Sixers backup center got into the act. Boban Marjanovic played only 13 minutes and he scored 10 points on 5-6 shooting. He even frustrated Chandler to the point that he got a technical foul for what he thought was an elbow being thrown. The back line of the Lakers looked overwhelmed and soft.

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