Lake Show Life
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Lakers vs. Suns: It’s already safe to write off the Lakers’ title hopes

By Ronald Agers

Oct 22, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) is defended by Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) and center Deandre Ayton (22) in the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) is defended by Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) and center Deandre Ayton (22) in the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Los Angeles Lakers opened up their home schedule against the Phoenix Suns, a team they had already lost twice to in the preseason. Just like the Golden State Warriors, the third game actually counts in the win/loss column. A word to the warning for delusional Lakers fans that thought the preseason did not matter. Stop reading here.

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to 0-2 with an embarrassing 115-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns. After finishing the first quarter with a 26-23 lead, the Lakers scored 18 points in the second quarter and 23 points in the third. Phoenix on the other hand scored 71 points during the same span. The Lake Show was down as much as 32 points in this game before Los Angeles made the score a little more cosmetic.

The good from the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss:

Seems like Russell Westbrook finally got his game through customs…in the first quarter.

Russell Westbrook has been terrible for most of the preseason and after a 8 point, 4-13 performance, the situation really bottomed out for the high-profile free agent. Maybe after LeBron James gave him some advice to watch a comedy and hang out with the wife and kids, Westbrook figured out that he is stronger than 95 percent of the guards in the NBA and he can do business in the post.

After Frank Vogel took the blame for Russ’ struggles, Westbrook responded by being more aggressive. Not only did he match the 8 points from the previous game in the first quarter, he drew two fouls from Devin Booker taking him out of rhythm. After that, Russ wasn’t heard of much.

LeBron James was shooting like Ray Allen…in the first quarter.

The King is unconscious from behind the arc folks. Like it’s an out-of-body experience the way he’s shooting the basketball. Hopefully, he doesn’t fall in love with popping his hands back (Man that is a bad habit to break when shots aren’t falling!) but right now, he is shooting on all cylinders.

He was the best player on the floor for the Lakers. The problem is…if he’s playing at a higher level than his teammates, the team is in trouble. Anthony Davis is supposed to be at this level on a consistent basis.

The game ended.

Understand that all of the good stuff happened in the first quarter. Sure they scored 38 points in the last quarter, but the game was over after the third.

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