Los Angeles Lakers lose Magic and the game at the buzzer

The final day of the 2018-19 regular season was a tough one for the Los Angeles Lakers for two big reasons.

This is the last Los Angeles Lakers post-game report for the year for Lake Show Life for the 2018-19 season. After 82 games, this will be the first one being done in absolute shock. Now if you think I was in shock, think about what the Los Angeles Lakers organization was feeling trying to get through the last game of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers.

In a night that was supposed to be for honoring Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki in their last games before retirement, leave it to the drama-filled Los Angeles Lakers to steal the headlines, again.

45 minutes before the game, Magic Johnson absolutely stunned the NBA world by resigning as president of basketball operations.

The NBA media considered the game an afterthought. But these new Lakers out of South Bay led by JaVale McGee and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope put on a show. If it wasn’t for a Mo Harkless shot at the buzzer, the season would have been extended for five more minutes.

The Los Angeles Lakers closed out the season losing to Portland 104-101 in a game that shows a glimpse of how far a healthy Lakers can go if they play hard and compete. After being eliminated from the playoffs, the Lakers went 6-5 to finish the season last month. The Lakers finish the season at 37-45 which is their best record since 2013.

To put the last playoff season in perspective shows how bad things are going into the summer. Mike Brown was the coach, Steve Nash was the starting point guard. They are on Golden State’s staff. Mike D’Antoni took over for Mike Brown that year. He’s in Houston coaching. Dwight Howard was the Lakers top priority in the offseason. The aftermath is nothing compared to this offseason coming up!

At that time, it was considered that the Lakers were in trouble and dysfunctional. Boy, those days look like harmonious times compared to right now.

The Los Angeles Lakers were completely unorganized before Magic Johnson’s announcement, just think how this looks.

This post-game report will show respect to the character of everyone that touched the floor and played in the last game. It could have been easy to roll over and yell 1-2-3, Cancun! But, for whatever reason, the Blazers came real close to suffering the fate of the Utah Jazz and the rivals from across the hall at Staples Center, Clippers.

Let’s finish up the season.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope left all of his shots on the floor!

I have to give Kentavious Caldwell-Pope credit, he will take advantage of a green light when he gets it. He spent the night firing up shot after shot with no conscience. I mean, where was this dude when things mattered?

KCP scored 32 points on 11-of-31 shooting from the field. No issues with the shooting percentage because the Lakers needed him to be aggressive. He added five rebounds and eight assists.

I read a nickname that I found was hilarious (basically because it’s true) that called him “Contract Kenny”. The Los Angeles Lakers will have to figure out (I know what you are thinking; who’s going to do it?) if Caldwell-Pope is worth keeping. The NBA is full of players that can score on bad teams. I am reminded of a statement that Charles Barkley said once.

There are plenty of players that score 20 points a game that can’t play dead. Every time I’ve seen KCP play for the last two weeks, I’m reminded of that phrase.

Lakers fans constantly bemoaned KCP’s disappearing jump shot for about 65 to 70 percent of the season. He can make plays such as he did for Moritz Wagner here.

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1115831298432565248

Plus he probably came up with the only way to slow MVP candidate James Harden on offense.

Then his defense disappeared for long stretches. This inconsistency could cost him in the offseason.

Alex Caruso is an NBA player, where? Well, no one knows!

Everyone will remember Alex Caruso losing the ball to Seth Curry on the Lakers final possession to set up Portland’s game-winner. But Alex Caruso is going to be a player in the NBA.

He didn’t shoot well only hitting 5-of-16 shots from the field but he finished the game with 13 assists and seven rebounds. He ran the pick and roll to perfection.

Enes Kanter and the Trail Blazers front line had no answer for the lobs to JaVale McGee.

The Los Angeles Lakers have an opportunity to sign him as a restricted free agent. Caruso has made it crystal clear that he is a perfect back up for Lonzo Ball next year. Plus he is a viable option to close out games if Ball’s free throw shooting does not improve.

Will he be around next year? Who knows? If Caruso gets a lucrative deal, will the Lakers match it? That’s what we will be looking for in the offseason.

Let’s finish up with the South Bay Bunch.

Happy Birthday, Jemerrio Jones! Johnathan Williams just dunked on people!

First off, I would like to extend a Happy Birthday wish to Jemerrio Jones! Then, I want to thank him for liking my last post-game report on Twitter! Appreciate that. Well, back to business.

Jemerrio Jones had the first double-double of his career scoring 11 points and grabbing 15 rebounds (six offensive). He added three assists with two steals and two blocks. He did all this in a game-high 46 minutes!

This dude has a serious motor. Since Jones hit the starting lineup, he AVERAGED 15.5 rebounds per game! Do I need to remind you that he is only 6’5? Tony Allen reincarnated folks! If you don’t know how tough he is, ask Kobe Bryant!

As for Johnathan Williams, I’m going to give the NBA some advice. If Johnathan Williams can get an opportunity to dunk on you, he will. No question.

He is an energy guy that will find some time next year on this roster. Williams scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds (five offensive) coming off the bench. The man knows how to play basketball and does not need plays called for him.

In this play here, you see Williams receive the ball from Caldwell-Pope and hit a cutting Alex Caruso with a bounce pass to the basket. He immediately cuts to the front of the rim and gets it back for the slam dunk. Williams has been doing this since the preseason. Hopefully, he will be doing it next year.

Well, Lakers fans, the Los Angeles Lakers season is over. So are these post-game reports. For all the readers that supported me with kind words and questions throughout the season, I would like to say thank you. These are informational pieces and I hope you learned something from them. They were for you and I took pride in doing them. There were NBA players that acknowledged them as well, so I am humbled by that.

The work is not over. With Magic Johnson’s departure, the site staff will be working hard to give you extensive coverage this summer. Keep it locked to Lake Show Life for upcoming Lakers news and draft coverage.