Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Takeaways from loss to Denver Nuggets

As LeBron James passed Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list, the Los Angeles Lakers lost once again. Here are four takeaways from the game.

LeBron James and the “Ghost” of Michael Jordan was the headline as the Los Angeles Lakers kept selling the ponzi scheme of a playoff push against the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers came into the game 5.5 games of the 8th and final spot.

If any of Los Angeles Lakers fanbase put up any money in this scheme, well all your money is gone, right along with the Lakers playoff chances. Any talk of the Lakers having a chance at this point is the networks trying to sell you a reason to watch this team for the rest of the season.

Lance Stephenson returned to the Lakers lineup after being out three games with a sprained toe. But the Lakers were without Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Tyson Chandler, Lonzo Ball, three Laker Girls, the PR announcer, the bus driver…well you get the point.

The Los Angeles Lakers lost their 4th straight game to the Denver Nuggets 115-99 in a game that the Lakers never led. The Nuggets jumped all over them and led as much as 23 points as the starters played with absolutely no urgency and acted like they have those flight reservations to Cancun ready for April 10th. But then the end of the bench came in and made it interesting.

Luke Walton strolled out a lineup of Alex Caruso, Johnathon Williams, Josh Hart and Moe Wagner and all of a sudden these four players showed something that hasn’t been seen from any Lakers lineup in 10 weeks.

Effort people…EFFORT.

With the presumed starting lineup for the summer league team in a few months, the Lakers cut the Nuggets lead to two points in the 4th quarter. Then Denver decided to put an end to things with a 26-12 run to end the game.

But again, this was about NBA history and LeBron James.

LeBron James needed 13 points to pass Michael Jordan for 4th place on the NBA all-time scoring list. He ended up getting the record in the second quarter driving past Nikola Jokic and drawing the foul.

Normally I don’t recommend other writer’s work in my pieces, but Bill Plaschke’s column on the strange energy in the Staples Center is a major storyline going forward. An article is coming from him and you might want to read it.

I know I am. Think about it, the next player on the list is Lakers icon Kobe Bryant. LeBron James is about 1300 points behind Kobe and if things go as planned, LeBron will pass him next year. If what Plaschke says about the vibe is true, LeBron might want to break the record on the road.

Let’s talk about the man of the hour.