Los Angeles Lakers lose to the Golden State Warriors (Again!)

The Los Angeles Lakers ran it back against the Golden State Warriors in the Staples Center on Tuesday. The Lakers have lost all four games in the preseason including a loss last week to the Warriors on the road. After falling behind at least 20 points in each of the previous preseason games, the Lakers kept it close and competitive.

The Los Angeles Lakers were pretty much blown out in the first four games of the preseason. While they were getting blown out, the ongoing excuse was that the roster had time to get it together before the regular season. (Checking watch)…okay, now the only difference between this post-game report and next week is the regular season starts and it’s for real. Then what? Do they need 25 games?

While these games were not competitive…

• Los Angeles Lakers open the preseason with a loss to the Brooklyn Nets
• Los Angeles Lakers suffer another blowout against Phoenix Suns
• Los Angeles Lakers stay winless in preseason with loss to Warriors
• Los Angeles Lakers get blown out by the Phoenix Suns (Again!)

This game was a lot closer with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook sharing the starting lineup together. In the end, it was a former Laker that closed the game out when the Golden State Warriors ran away late to send the purple and gold away with yet another loss 111-99.

Golden State played without Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson…you get the idea.

The good from the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss:

LeBron James looked interested and focused on getting ready for next week. 

Lake Show Life was very observant about LeBron’s absence in Sunday’s game against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.  It’s not a good look when an NBA team’s franchise player can watch the Rams play during the afternoon and sit out a preseason game a few hours later with less than two weeks before the regular season.

But in this game, James came out aggressive looking to get to the basket and score at will. Nothing can illustrate that more than this sequence during the first half.

LeBron scored 13 points in the first half while contributing 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Then in the third quarter, he kept the aggressiveness going by knocking down two shots early after halftime. He spearheaded a 7-0 run to get the Lakers an 11-point lead in the third quarter. But boy does he have to ease back on the turnovers. He had six in the first half! The King finished with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.

Anthony Davis had a dominant first quarter! 

This seems like a strange headline here. Why should Lakers fans care that AD had a good first quarter? Well, last season, Davis made the mistake of letting the game come to him and lost his shooting rhythm and the Lakers ended up losing at home. That game started a shooting slump that stretched out for about a week and a half.. Getting Anthony Davis into the game early and often is very important for the Lakers’ offense.

12 of AD’s 14 first-half points was in the first quarter knocking down five of his first six shots. Getting the offense started allowed LeBron to get his party started in the second quarter.

AD finished with 20.

Russell Westbrook is starting to slow down and play basketball! 

Yes, Lake Show Life has been tough on Russell Westbrook the last two games (Welcome to the Los Angeles Lakers Russ!), but the staff knew that he would get it. The turnovers were a product of his trying too hard and rushing everything. He was much better in this game.

Look it’s not going to be easy for Westbrook to adjust his game (Because he really has no choice!) but if he slows down, shoots the ball and makes plays like these…

This dude will be all right. Lake Show Life loves players that play hard every night. Russell Westbrook hasn’t dogged it in a game in his life. He’s not going to start the trend in L.A. He finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Man those turnovers have got to stop though…he had five.

The bad from the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss:

The Lakers injury list is starting to pile up…(Cue the M.A.S.H. music!)

Folks, this Los Angeles Lakers narrative of staying healthy is off to a bad start. Players are starting to drop like flies on this roster.  The updated injury report before the game included these players.

• Wayne Ellington didn’t play due to left hamstring soreness.
• Lakers were already without Ariza because of ankle surgery.
• Talen Horton-Tucker now will be out for a while after having right thumb surgery.
• Malik Monk, who has been the Lakers’ best scorer this preseason especially from deep is out with a right groin strain.
• Kendrick Nunn sat out with a sprained right ankle.

Rajon Rondo (6 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists), Austin Reaves (10 points and 3 assists) and Chaundee Brown (11 points) filled in admirably by committee off the bench, but the Lakers need these guys healthy at some point.

The Lakers turn the ball over too much!

The first four games of this preseason, the Lakers were in no danger of winning those games. This one was for the talking and was lost with turnovers. The Lake Show doubled up the Warriors in turnovers and points usually were put on the board by Golden State with each turnover.

The Lakers finished with 20 turnovers in the game to Golden State’s 12.

The story from the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss:

Avery Bradley…

The former Laker is battling for the last spot on the Warriors roster and in his seven minutes played like it. He scored 5 points, grabbed 2 rebounds, had 2 assists that directly impacted the end of the game.

It’s simple really…get through Thursday’s game with no more injuries and get some type of chemistry.

The Lakers have approximately six days until the regular season and Lakers Nation is starting to get divided on what matters and what doesn’t. Winning doesn’t count in the preseason, but consistent improvement does.

With one more preseason game left against the Sacramento Kings left on Thursday, there hasn’t been enough of either.