The Lakers just lost to the Memphis Grizzlies, which dropped them two games under .500 on the season. Here are four steps to fix their chemistry issues.
The Los Angeles Lakers have the talent to get into the playoffs, but as James Worthy said after the game, “it just seems like there’s some type of virus going on with this team right now.”
It’s clear that the Lakers have some major chemistry issues right now, so I’m going to lay out a 4-step process that will solve all of LA’s problems.
Step #1
Sit LeBron the rest of the season and cut Rondo
In 2015 the Jazz dealt Enes Kanter to the Oklahoma City Thunder. A few weeks after the trade the Thunder visited Utah to take on the Jazz in Kanter’s first return back to his old team. The Jazz beat the Thunder easily and after the game Trevor Booker of the Jazz busted out one of my favorite basketball quotes in the past decade. He said this about Kanter, “He did what he always does. He got his stats, He didn’t defend. He took an L (a loss).”
Everyone who follows the NBA knows that Kanter sets weak screens and gives 30% effort on D, so that he can save energy to pad his stats on offense. I’m not saying LeBron is the same as Kanter, obviously James is an all-time great basketball player, but since he’s returned from his injury, his play reminds me of Kanter’s.
Over the last eight games, since LeBron started playing again after his groin problem, he’s averaging a triple-double, but it’s the emptiest stat line I’ve ever seen.
LeBron’s stopped playing defense since he’s come back. He doesn’t close out on 3-point shooters anymore, he doesn’t try to stop the player he’s guarding from driving to the rim, and he doesn’t even try block shots down low.
To go along with LeBron’s bad defense, he’s looked really slow since he came back, maybe it’s because of his injury, or perhaps he’s out of shape, or maybe he just getting old. I don’t why, but he’s looked really “deliberate” when he’s been on the court.
To go along with LeBron’s non-existent defense, he’s had a bad attitude. Every time one his teammates misses a shot LeBron either sighs, rolls his eyes, or drops his head. His bad body language is crushing my spirit, so I can’t imagine what it’s doing to Kuzma, Ingram, Hart, and the rest of the guys on the team.
The Lakers are 1-4 over their last five games and at this point it doesn’t look like the players on the Purple and Gold (especially Kuzma, who looks he wants to punch LeBron in the face every time they get close) want to play with LeBron. Couple the bad vibes towards “The King” with his awful defense and it’s clear the team would be better off resting James the rest of the season.
As for Rondo, I’m not going to waste too many words on him. Over the last nine games (since LeBron came back from his injury) he has a -20.1 Net Rating. How is that even possible?
It’s clear, for whatever reason, Rondo doesn’t care about playing basketball anymore. Every time he steps on the court he plays so badly I want to break my TV.
Rondo is 33-years-old and I’d be shocked if he played in the NBA next season, the Lakers ought to just send him into early retirement and cut him.
The Lakers should just roll with Lonzo (once he’s back from injury), Kuzma, Ingram, Hart, Bullock, Muscala, Chandler, McGee, and KCP.
Who knows maybe they’d surprise everyone and start winning.