Los Angeles Lakers: D’Angelo Russell ends playoff streak of LeBron James

Here are some takeaways from the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss to Brooklyn Nets.

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers officially will not be a part of the playoffs. There I said it. It’s over.

There were two important streaks that were of importance last night that materialized. One, the Los Angeles Lakers are officially out of the playoff chase for the franchise record sixth straight year. The last time the Lakers made the playoffs was when Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles tendon back in 2013. That was when he made it a point to still shoot the free throws.

Man, Kobe Bryant fans are going to beat that narrative to death this summer. If Kobe Bryant wasn’t beloved before, his reputation just made mythical proportions. I mean the last time the Lakers made the playoffs, Dwight Howard was considered a max level free agent.

Two, LeBron James will miss the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2005 and will not make the Finals for the ninth straight year.

Wait a minute? That’s three streaks. Oh well, let the blame game and finger-pointing begin because it was not supposed to go like this.

To put this situation in proper perspective, the Los Angeles Lakers have missed the playoffs more in this decade (six) than they have in an entire generation from 1949-2013 (five). Is this what Dr. Jerry Buss and Jack Kent Cooke envisioned when they built and nourished this franchise into one of the two biggest NBA crown jewel franchises?

Well on the bright side, everybody can stop talking about the Lakers chances of making the playoffs, even though the team had made Cancun plans before the All-Star break.

The Los Angeles Lakers lost their 4th straight game to the Brooklyn Nets 111-106 to finish out the embarrassing sweep from both New York franchises. Yes, Lakers fans, the team could not beat the Knicks or the Nets.

The game featured its own storyline with the return of D’Angelo Russell, who fresh off of one of the greatest performances in the shot clock era against the Kings, would have some Lakers fans calling for Magic Johnson’s job. With Russell now an All-Star, Magic Johnson’s legacy as a Lakers executive is tied to him.

But now, I’m in the serious minority and if you don’t sign that max-level free agent you promised everyone on air in the middle of Dodger Stadium on Fox Sports, I might be the only one left.

JaVale McGee had a career night…this is no joke

JaVale McGee had a game that he can use for his highlight reel as he looks for his next NBA contract. McGee absolutely destroyed the Brooklyn Nets.

JaVale scored a career-high 33 points and set another career high in rebounds grabbing 20 (12 on the offensive end). Then he took time in the game to block six shots.

Here’s a list of other Los Angeles Lakers big men that accomplished that feat with JaVale…

What’s even more incredible is the fact that if he had not been in foul trouble all night or missed his free throws, he may have easily dropped a 40 piece on the Nets. He dominated Jarrett Allen and Ed Davis all night long.

JaVale McGee looks like he is now fully back healthy and in shape from that nasty bout with pneumonia in the middle of the season. He played with the same energy he had to start the season by blocking shots on one end and finishing on the other.

Caris LeVert (Shout out to the Lakers announcing team saying that he’s the third cousin of the O’Jays singer Eddie LeVert) was swallowed up by McGee which started the break. He ran so fast he was out of the screen and was ready around the rim for the LeBron James lob for the dunk.

The media and Lakers fans always bring up the injuries to LeBron, Rondo, Lonzo and Ingram, but the illness that put McGee in the hospital was a major hit to the Lakers as well. Pneumonia is no joke. I think it’s important to point out that incident set JaVale and the Lakers back some defensively and tonight pointed that out.

It had been months since JaVale dominated a team on both ends of the floor like he did against the Nets.

He did have some help getting set up for his monster night.

LeBron James showed a competitive spirit not seen in weeks

Maybe LeBron James was embarrassed being called out by Walt Frazier. Maybe he watched sports talk shows rain criticisms on his game and commitment. Maybe the Doc Rivers rumored reason that included him as uncoachable made him stay on as Clippers coach caused a stir.

Whatever the reason, LeBron James actually came to the arena and played some basketball. LeBron did not shoot well in this game but he did contribute 25 points, 9 rebounds and 14 assists. Out of those 14 assists that he collected, at least ten of those led to JaVale McGee baskets which most were dunks.

What impressed me the most was that he played on the defensive end of the floor. 

When was the last time anyone saw this from LeBron James…not in a Lakers uniform but period?

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1109306017475674118

LeBron James threw a bad pass that was picked off by D’Angelo Russell, but instead of slumping his shoulders, he ran back down the court and channeled that 2016 dude that blocked Andre Iguodala’s shot in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

Sure he shot only 8-for-25 and missed four free throws in the 4th quarter. But how many nights, did he just coast along just to get stats and make the box score look good?

Plus, when the game was close, LeBron James played way past the minutes restriction. When he fell at the end of the game and banged his knee, he finished the game out.

In short, for the first time in weeks, LeBron James showed some heart.

I know what some Lakers fans are wondering.

D’Angelo Russell had an up-and-down game

It is very plain to see why some fans would love to see this guy in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform. This guy is smooth. I mean Shea butter spread over ice smooth. When he figures out the NBA game, this guy is going to be great NBA point guard.

Russell practically matched his output from the East coast scoring 21 points and dropping 13 dimes and stealing the ball 3 times. He is the first Net to have three straight 20 point and 10 assist games since 1993-94.

The man has great court vision to set up his teammates.

Plus he is a fearless shooter. He turned it on the final quarter and hit a dagger in the Staples Center just like he did in Brooklyn seemingly at the same spot.

But you could also see flashes of some of the reasons why Magic Johnson needed to let him go. D’Angelo Russell came out with the agenda to embarrass the Lakers and it cost him at times in this game. First he got in early foul trouble in the first half and continued to make silly plays and commit fouls in the second half. His six turnovers kept the game close for the Lakers.

He made it personal and it almost cost the Nets. The game was a lot closer than it should have been. Instead of just playing his game, he wanted to make a point to everybody in the building.

Plus the potential for D’Angelo Russell’s greatness was nourished by the leadership of Kenny Atkinson and the steady play of Spencer Dinwiddie which allows Russell to do his thing. Its an environment that the Los Angeles Lakers would not have been able to provide.

Finally…

The Lakers are going to have to start playing with some defensive discipline going into next year. There is no way this team can allow Joe Harris to have open shots. You know…

The guy that has the highest 3 point shooting percentage in the NBA…

The guy that beat Stephen Curry in the 3 point shootout during All-Star weekend…

The guy that hit his first six 3 point shots in this game. I mean only so much can be put on Luke Walton folks. When does basketball I.Q. kick in? Quietly Harris scored 26 points on only 15 shots and some of them were wide open.

The Los Angeles Lakers are now closing 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.