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

LeBron James is making it plain and simple that he will not play for Luke Walton

Let’s look at this picture above. LeBron James is smiling, having fun, you know living his best life.

Only one problem. His team is getting killed. LeBron James is going to let the Lakers ship sink. Sit back and watch. I’m on record, Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram better get theirs and wait for Lonzo Ball to get back and infuse the life back in this franchise.

This dude is not going to do it. This is Cleveland all over again. What’s worse, this an basketball player on the decline. He can’t pull the effort needed to clean up this mess. What’s even more sad, he won’t even try.

LeBron James has been in the NBA for 16 years, his legacy is set and to watch him play in this game has to be some of the most frustrating and irritating experiences in my years of covering basketball. LeBron James finished one assist shy of a triple-double scoring 18 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out 9 assists. I say…

So? Who cares?

If LeBron James is going to play like this, why don’t everyone just shut it down and start tanking like New York, Phoenix, Atlanta for a lottery pick. This is ridiculous.

When is LeBron James going to grow up and be a leader. Most basketball purists know this but for the ones that don’t know, LeBron is looking out for himself. That attitude is spreading to the young guys. Believe me folks, they do not care anymore. Because they know he is going half-speed doing just enough to get stats up to look efficient.

This is not what the “alleged” best player in world is supposed to play like or act.

Now he can pass the ball to Brandon Ingram for alley-oops…

Hit JaVale for pick and rolls at the beginning of the game…

Or on the fast break…

But who is this guy kidding? The President of Basketball Operations comes to talk to the team about coming together for the rest of the season and the supposed best player on the team comes out passive and does nothing to influence the game with his talent like…

Joel Embiid…

Tobias Harris…

J.J. Redick…

You know players that competed and basically canceled out Kyle Kuzma’s performance.

Does anyone take him seriously anymore? Even the 76ers seem to be making one phrase of LeBron’s a joke…

LeBron’s plan has already started with his camp (aka LeBron) searching for a coaching change. Now he has to play his part and forced the Lakers to make a move or miss the playoffs altogether. He couldn’t get Anthony Davis, but he’s going to show his disappointment the best way he knows how.

The way he has done for 12 of his 16 years. Fire Walton, blame Walton, and his fans will let him get off case closed.

Eric Spoelstra survived because Pat Riley didn’t play games with LeBron. Maybe that’s why the Lakers were a dynasty in the 80’s. Players play and management makes decisions.

If the Lakers don’t deal with this behavior, there will be no playoffs. If they do, well the Warriors will have them out in four blowouts spread out over ten days.

Reggie Bullock and Mike Muscala played their first games in a Lakers uniform. Muscala scored 8 points on the strength of a couple of 3 pointers. 

I hope Luke Walton can justify starting Bullock over Rondo. Not to the fans, but Rondo.

The Los Angeles Lakers are now past the halfway point in their long journey through the NBA season. Lake Show Life will be there every step of the way. Continue to check in for Lakers news, previews and reviews.