The bad from the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss:
Joel Embiid is going to be the MVP and he was in the lineup.
Embiid was held out of the previous game against the Miami Heat because of back issues. There were times in this game when it was evident that pain was flaring up but this guy is so big, so strong and so skilled. Dwight Howard did an outstanding job of making him work, but the Lakers did not have the personnel to stop this guy. But then again, what NBA team does?
Joel needed to drop 38 points to take back the scoring lead. He didn’t get it (More on that later!), but he finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks.
Austin Reaves got exposed big time on defense.
The Sixers targeted Reaves and abused him time and time again. The example of the night was when Tobias Harris bullied him under the rim for an easy layup. Tyrese Maxey ran him off picks for scores while every Sixers play looked for a switch to matchup Austin one on one.
This is not Reaves’ fault. The fact the Lakers need him defensively to play in that capacity at all as a rookie tells the story.
The Los Angeles Lakers allowed four Sixers starters to top 20 points or more!
NBA teams can’t win games under these circumstances Lakers fans.
Tobias Harris: His 20 points was basically the ball game.