The Los Angeles Lakers were absolutely humiliated by the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night in what unfortunately was just another game added to the list of ugly games this season. In the process, Laker fan let their voices be heard, vigorously booing the home team in the process.
It was more than just booing, though. LeBron James and Trevor Ariza were responded to a heckler at their home arena in a not-so-friendly way. The frustration has boiled over among the fans and despite that, the Lakers do not even seem to care, at least according to Carmelo Anthony.
Following the game, Russell Westbrook was asked about the fans booing the Lakers in the blowout loss to the Pelicans. Westbrook’s response to reporters was unfortunate, as he yet again highlighted the problem with this Lakers team (h/t Bleacher Report):
"“Take it home? For what? S–t. Take it home? I got three beautiful kids at my house. Why would I take it home? If they boo, they can take their a– home. I ain’t worried about that. It doesn’t bother me none.”"
Now Westbrook obviously shouldn’t be ruining his life over the Lakers struggling to win basketball games. Nobody expects that and some perspective is crucial for every NBA player and it is a good thing to see him citing his family as a reason to leave the issues at the arena.
But to tell the fans that are booing them to “take their a– home”? Once again, this shows a lack of accountability from the Los Angeles Lakers. This is a team that does not care as much as you, the fan, does about losing basketball games. This is a team that maybe outside of LeBron James doesn’t seem to realize the trouble they are in.
Simply put: the Los Angeles Lakers are ignorant.
They are ignorant of how bad they truly are. There seems to be this belief internally for the Lakers that once they get Anthony Davis back and the playoffs start it will be better. Sure, we can admit that nobody wants to see Anthony Davis and LeBron James in a first-round playoff series, but this team has done absolutely nothing to make us believe they can win four playoff series, let alone two games to get out of the play-in.
Heck, later in the media session Westbrook said that other teams’ plan to simply “just play harder” than the Lakers is working. That is a former MVP ADMITTING that the Lakers are losing games because other teams are trying harder. What is this, Little League?
This team doesn’t care. They think they have some aura of invisibility that will be cast upon them once the playoffs start. Who needs to actually try in a February basketball game when you are the ninth seed in the conference, right? Who cares if someone who spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on tickets boos me. They can just go home!
This team lacks accountability and the fans are trying to make them realize it. Unfortunately, the Lakers simply are not getting the message.