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Lakers lose LeBron to ejection in win over Pistons: Good, bad and story

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 21: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on as he is ejected from the game during the third quarter of the game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 21, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 21: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on as he is ejected from the game during the third quarter of the game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 21, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers continued the road trip in a Sunday afternoon matchup against the Detroit Pistons. The Lake Show needed to stem the tide after getting blown out of Beantown 130-108  by the Boston Celtics led by Jayson Tatum, Dennis “The Menace” Schroder and Marcus Smart.

The early intrigue to this game was the Sacramento Kings’ decision to fire former Lakers coach Luke Walton. With the coaching carousel officially started, the Vogel clock has officially started in the opinion of Lake Show Life. Let’s break down the facts, shall we?

  • The Kings have lost seven of eight games and dropped to 6-11 on season leaving them 12th in the Western Conference. The Lakers had lost three straight games and four of their last five.
  • Sacramento has lost against struggling teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves. Well, the Lakers beat the Spurs…the others? Blown leads to OKC (Twice!) and blowouts to the Timberwolves…at home.
  • The Kings are amongst the league’s worst defensive teams, ranking 26th in defensive efficiency and in defensive rebounding percentage, 29th in paint points per game allowed and last in second-chance points per game allowed. Does this remind fans of the Lakers’ current stretch?

The Los Angeles Lakers went on a 37-17 explosion in the fourth quarter to outlast the Detroit Pistons 121-116. This post-game report has to be different from every other one in the history of this website. Why? The analysis starts after this event.

https://twitter.com/sportingnews/status/1462582341075759108

The Los Angeles Lakers were considered dead in the water at this point falling down as much as 17 points in the third quarter. Bottom line, they looked scared to death until three players combined to save Frank Vogel’s job (For now)!

We get to them now!

The good from the Los Angeles Lakers’ win:

Russell Westbrook might have saved the Los Angeles Lakers from having to make a coaching change…through Thanksgiving!

There have been debates on this site, but nothing has been more divisive than the play of Russell Westbrook or his fit with this team long term. Ricky Welch who was probably the last reader to defend this guy can take a victory lap because the Pistons woke him up from a season-long slump full of inconsistencies. Man, this dude went off on a rampage that only Isaiah Stewart could match when he went after LeBron!

The Lakers do not win this game without Russ’ fire to compete. Did you see him kick Diallo in the butt going back down the court? He got the Lakers untracked and probably saved this team from a soft reputation that would have followed them the rest of the season.

He finished with 26 points (10-21 shooting!), 10 assists, 9 rebounds and 2 steals. This writer has been all over Westbrook for his uneven play this season, but watching this dude match the intensity under these types of circumstances was impressive. He scored 15 points in the last quarter almost matched the Pistons as a team!

While Russ got the offense started, the next guy anchored the defense in a way not seen since the championship season.

Anthony Davis pretty much shut down an NBA team from scoring by himself in crunch time!

The Lakers outscored Detroit by 20 points in the last quarter. Bottom line, they could not score because of Anthony Davis who put on one of the greatest defensive clinics on a basketball floor. It was like he knew what the Pistons were going to do before they did.

Sure you see the two blocks on Cade Cunningham in the highlight, but the two huge steals in the final seconds was even more impressive. In the third quarter, it looked like AD was close to disappearing, but he brought the energy on the defensive end that Russ brought on the offensive end.

He finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 blocks and 4 steals. These are not empty stats Lakers fans but how games get influenced. But the stats do not illustrate the defensive wizardry this guy put on display.

Carmelo Anthony provided energy from the bench!

Melo closed out the performance from the “Big 3” by knocking down five 3 pointers for 18 points. His four-point play kept the Lakers close when they were letting go of the rope in the first half and his timely shooting helped the other stars get this team over the hump. After the incident, he looked like the only Lakers player that wasn’t spooked immediately afterward.

This part of the article is specifically for the coach.

These three players saved Frank Vogel’s job. If the Los Angeles Lakers would have quit in this game, the front office would have no choice but to let him go. If they didn’t maybe it was time for them to go too. It’s that serious.

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