The Los Angeles Lakers are close to ending their Grammys trip in Atlanta with a quick stop in the Queen City for the second of a back-to-back with the Charlotte Hornets. Lake Show Life is celebrated for honest, in-your-face analysis that provides truth to the real Los Angeles Lakers fan.
That’s why we are not going to waste your time with weak excuses of putting this phrase on the internet…
“The Los Angeles Lakers without LeBron James and Anthony Davis was helpless against the Charlotte Hornets in a loss”.
Our everyday readers are much smarter than that and deserve better, so let’s say it like this…
Most thought this game was over at this point the night before…
https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/1486864619738046465
Why? Because the starters did not show up at all and proved to the NBA world that they cannot survive without LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the floor. It was highly unlikely AD would play with a banged-up wrist and at this point if AD doesn’t play look for LeBron to sit out too.
The Los Angeles Lakers were without LeBron James (Knee soreness), Anthony Davis (Sore wrist) and Malik Monk (Groin strain) and were atrocious about the first 27 minutes of the game falling down as much as 20 points.
But like numerous games, this season which includes a previous game against Charlotte in LA, the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons and most recently against the Miami Heat, the Lake Show flipped a switch and looked like NBA Finals contenders to come back from a huge deficit to make it close.
Then Frank Vogel makes a huge mistake at the end of the game.
- At 2:37 left in the game, Talen Horton-Tucker gets called for a blocking foul on Miles Bridges.
- The Lakers challenge the play for a possible charge.
- Not only do they lose the challenge, the Hornets get the basket and a free throw!
Despite Russell Westbrook’s heroics (No this is not a typo or a mistake!) to make it a one-possession game, he missed a 3 pointer with less than five seconds left as the Los Angeles Lakers lose 117-114. This game was wild folks!
The good from the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss:
If it wasn’t for Carmelo Anthony, Austin Reaves and (Checks notes!) KENT BAZEMORE?!!!! The Los Angeles Lakers would have been blown out!
Stay tuned for the starting lineup woes that Frank Vogel believed would work against an athletic Hornets team. This is your coach for the rest of the season, so enjoy the music from the band while the Titanic sinks.
The Lakers were down as much as 15 points in the first quarter before Carmelo Anthony, Austin Reaves and Kent Bazemore was inserted in the lineup. Thankfully they had their 3 point stroke available or the Lakers would have been down 30 points instead of 16.
- Carmelo Anthony knocked down his first three shots and scored 8 points.
- Yes folks…THAT Kent Bazemore scored 13 points on 4-7 shooting including three shots from behind the arc!
- Austin Reaves shot 3-5 from the field.
- The rest of the roster especially the starters donated their bricks to local Charlotte masonry warehouses.
The third quarter led by Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook!
It’s like Ish Smith knew that something was coming, didn’t he? Just press play!
"Just bringing energy."@IshSmith talks with @ashahahmadi about his double digit first half and what the @hornets need to do to win this game.#AllFly pic.twitter.com/MCL46MFIuz
— Bally Sports: Hornets (@HornetsOnBally) January 29, 2022
The Lakers came through in the second half with a huge 28-9 run to slice into a 20 point third-quarter deficit. Russ got aggressive going to the rim making layups and drawing fouls while Melo was wearing the Hornets out with his isolation game.
The Los Angeles Lakers outscored the Hornets 38-22 overall.
Melo finished with 19 points but we are saving Russ for later!
This team took care of the ball!
The Lakers committed only six turnovers!
Oh, you were waiting for the Russell Westbrook analysis? PFFT! He deserves a section all of his own! You have to keep reading!