The Los Angeles Lakers put their “Lake Show of Dysfunction” on display on national television against a legitimate NBA Finals contender in the Golden State Warriors. While the Warriors are preparing for a Western Conference Finals showdown with the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Lakers are not only struggling to win games but to control the narrative (Also read: Giving out excuses and/or placing blame!).
The way they have underachieved this season can be illustrated by how they executed the trading deadline.
- They held out Russell Westbrook in an effort to trade him and tried to sell “back tightness” that no one that practices common sense believed.
- They made absolutely no deals at the trade deadline stating that the buyout market would be the next step. Kendrick Perkins and Richard Jefferson can show you what the staff of Lake Show Life thought of that idea.
https://twitter.com/ClutchPointsApp/status/1491881821356769284
- Then there was the “miscommunication” of Rob Pelinka’s “communication” with LeBron James and Anthony Davis on what was going on at the deadline. Pelinka says he did while the stars say he didn’t.
- While all of this stuff was going on off the court, the Lakers got bullied against the World Champions (Milwaukee Bucks) and lost to a team that traded 2/3rds of their talent to play a roster full of players no one has ever heard of (Portland Trail Blazers) on it.
The Los Angeles Lakers showed real character coming back from a 15 point deficit to push the Golden State Warriors to the limit, but hot 3 point shooting ultimately sunk the Los Angeles Lakers 117-115.
LeBron James had a chance to send the game to overtime from the free-throw line, but he missed.
The Lakers are now five games under .500 after losing their third straight that extends to seven losses in their last ten.
The good from the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss:
LeBron James put up numbers but is it really for the Lakers or for himself?
Every time the Golden State Warriors match up against the Los Angeles Lakers, they have the same scheme that LeBron and the Lake Show fall for like clockwork…
If LeBron James comes out aggressive and looks to score, Anthony Davis can’t get a real rhythm that can foul every Warriors front-court player out of the game!
The Warriors have used this scheme since last year and it always works. It worked in this game too as LeBron scored 18 points in the first half on 7-12 shooting. Anthony Davis on the other hand, faded in and out of the game with only six shots and missed three free throws.
Look out below 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/SnhMa56E3t
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 13, 2022
LeBron James was going for the headlines as the all-time leading scorer in the regular season and playoffs passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. But guess what, only Lake Show Life (Plus ESPN’s Michael Wilbon!) sees that none of this matters as long as the Los Angeles Lakers are a bad team…period.
He finished with 26 points (9-27 shooting…Umm special note to Walter Agers, this is not good!), 15 rebounds and 8 assists.
Malik Monk…Talen Horton-Tucker and ESPECIALLY Austin Reaves were killing the Warriors.
The Warriors always allow LeBron James to get his numbers with the assumption that he will wear down and none of the supporting staff will contribute. In this game, that plan almost backfired because three Lakers bench players destroyed Golden State in this game!
Talen Horton-Tucker:
It’s almost laughable that fans and so-called experts thought that Talen Horton-Tucker was an underachieving bust that needed to be traded. Try dealing with thumb surgery and a bout with COVID-19 for an extended period of time.
The only real positive thing that came out of the Westbrook minutes saga is that THT left the spotlight for a bit and relaxed. The more he got the basketball, the more he contributed. In this game, THT played one of his better all-around games finishing with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
Malik Monk:
Why this dude came off the bench in this game is reason number 876,113 as to why Frank Vogel needs to be fired. This is a starter that is constantly behind the eight ball because of inconsistent minutes. But even then, he still makes winning plays. This guy is going to make millions of dollars and it won’t be with the Los Angeles Lakers.
He finished with 12 points and 3 rebounds. Just think if he had Stanley Johnson’s minutes (4 points) or Avery Bradley’s minutes (8 points).
Austin Reaves:
This dude can flat out play NBA basketball and there is a difference. What Alex Caruso did for the Lakers in previous years, this guy does at a bargain rate. He plays defense (Man this dude pinned Klay Thompson’s layup to the backboard!), he is willing to take shots and make them and if Russell Westbrook ever decides to cut to the basket like this guy does, the Lakers drama would evaporate.
Reaves finished with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. Dude did not miss a shot folks!
They did not give up!
The staff of Lake Show Life has witnessed this team let go of the rope on Saturday nights in the past. To see this team continue to fight shows something. We don’t know what that is, but its something.