Los Angeles Lakers play listless in loss to the Portland Trail Blazers

The Los Angeles Lakers are now 2-2 after losing to the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Los Angeles Lakers had come into the game losing two straight at home to the Portland Trail Blazers. Well after Damian Lillard and his backcourt mates started firing up 3 point shots, the Lakers find themselves losing three straight in the Staples Center.

The Los Angeles Lakers avoided NBA’s “Upset Sunday” blowing out the Minnesota Timberwolves in wire to wire fashion. 24 hours later in their second game of a back-to-back, Frank Vogel had some roster changes. Alex Caruso was held out due to health protocols as the team welcomed back Anthony Davis while keeping LeBron James in the lineup despite ankle issues.

The Lakers played exactly like a tired and uninterested team coming off a short turnaround as the defense was considered optional losing to the Portland Trail Blazers, 115-107.

The Good:

The starts of halves for the Los Angeles Lakers. It was clear that Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum was going to have a ton of attention in the beginning. Three quick turnovers led to the Lake Show getting out to a 20-8 lead. In the third quarter, the Lakers rolled over Portland with a 15-0 run.

LeBron James looked really good looking for his offensive game early. He had 12 points and a few assists before the lights got warm. In the fourth quarter, he did what he could, scoring 13 points. Where did those assists go to you ask?

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was feeling it from long range to start. His 9 points early got the Lakers off to a good start.

Dennis Schroder scored the ball very well for the Lakers. He was aggressive keeping the Portland defense on its heels. He was seen going back and forth with Damian Lillard at times during the game.

A good laugh. At halftime, officials were checking one of the rims because players complained that it was crooked. Maybe because of LeBron.

To hear the official say, “Just because they are complaining doesn’t make them right!” was classic.

The Bad:

Yes, Dennis Schroder makes this list as well. Remember his conversations with Lillard? Well, it woke Dame up. Lillard proceeded to give the Lakers the business in the second half. What’s worse, the Lakers’ offense was disjointed all night long. Ask the Atlanta Hawks why they lost a ton of games while Schroder got his numbers.

The Blazers runs coming from the second unit. Every time the Lakers would get a lead, Portland’s bench players would come in and get things rolling. Gary Trent Jr. went absolutely crazy in the first half from long distance. What damage Trent did from the outside, Enes Kanter would take care of the paint with offensive rebounds and put-backs.

Anthony Davis? Well, all players have bad days and this game was it. Hook shots off the side of the backboard, to missed free throws, to that scary fall landing on his back, AD just did not have it in this game.

The perimeter defense was atrocious.

• Damian Lillard: 31 points on 10-16 shooting, 5-10 from distance.
• C.J. McCollum: 20 points, 11 assists and 3 steals.
• Gary Trent Jr.: Career-high seven made 3 point shots, 28 points!

The Story:

As well as the Lakers played in the last two games, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks rolled over. The Trail Blazers came to play and the Los Angeles Lakers did not match the intensity.

The last Lake Show Life Lessons report warned fans about the Lakers being able to keep their focus after back-to-back blowouts. Bottom line, they didn’t.

Lake Show Life’s more in-depth breakdowns will come in Lake Show Life Lessons tomorrow. Keep it locked for the only Los Angeles Lakers post-game report with highlights and in-depth analysis.