Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Takeaways from loss to New Orleans Pelicans

Here are four takeaways from an awful loss by the Los Angeles Lakers to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Well…so much for the Los Angeles Lakers two-game winning streak. I think we all should have seen this coming. After a spirited comeback win against the Houston Rockets.

The Lakers went the late Dennis Green route…

"“They are who we thought they were…and we let them off the hook!”"

Whether the sport is football or basketball, that statement applies big time with the Los Angeles Lakers. This team blew a huge opportunity to gain some momentum to make the playoffs and resorted back to their old habits. Bad defense, poor 3-point shooting and a whole bunch of turnovers. Kinda makes you wonder.

Did the Los Angeles Lakers win the game against Houston or did the Rockets just blow it? After the Rockets beat the Warriors in their own building without James Harden, well the Lakers are going to have to look in the mirror and ask that question, because this has to be the worst loss of the season considering the magnitude of the playoff situation.

Remember this team lost to New York and Cleveland at home. They also loss to the Atlanta Hawks on the road.

The Lakers allowed a New Orleans Pelicans team to jump out the gate with 42 points in the opening quarter and run off to a 128-115 win. Here’s the caveat, the Pelicans dominated the Lakers inside without Anthony Davis, who the Pelicans held out for “rest”.

Lake Show Life prides itself in these post-game reports by looking past the numbers and box scores and providing insight on the “eye test” that impact Los Angeles Lakers basketball games.

This one will definitely apply because stats don’t tell the story in this game.

The Lakers actually out-shot the Pelicans in this game, knocking down 55 percent from the field to 52 for the Pelicans. Brandon Ingram and LeBron James stuffed the stat sheets and Kyle Kuzma played well at times in a supporting role. The Lakers started the game hitting 11 of their first 12 shots.

So what happened?

The Lakers were out-shot 15-10 from the 3-point line and allowed 15 more Pelicans attempts at the basket thanks to 23 turnovers. But let’s call this what it really is.

The Los Angeles Lakers did not show up to play defense. That is all and that is it. There were numerous plays where Kyle Kuzma and LeBron James were looking at each other wondering where their defensive rotations were breaking down. Believe me there was plenty.

Former Laker Julius Randle did his best to start the Lakers fans pining for the old days, scoring 24 points on 9-for-17 shooting while dishing out 5 assists. Now, we get to hear Lakers fans dog Magic Johnson for letting him walk out the door for the next 48 hours. Let me make this clear for everyone.

The Lakers front office made the right decision. Can we all just move along? Plus, Randle asked for his release. His walking looks bad now because Paul George backed out of coming to the Lakers in the offseason.

Jrue Holiday continued to make Lonzo Ball look like the Defensive Player of the year, lighting up the Lakers for 27 points and 7 assists.  

The Lakers are below .500 going into Monday’s game against Memphis.

How bad was the night for the Lakers? Check out this tweet from one of my colleagues and friend to Lake Show Life, David Grubb…

Moving on…