After beginning this season 10-4, the Los Angeles Lakers have misplaced seven of their final 9 video games. 4 of these latest losses have been by margins of at the least 25 factors, and there have been instances when it appeared like their effort, focus and vitality have been virtually non-existent.
The Lakers are repeatedly uncovered on the defensive finish and on the defensive boards. They’re twenty sixth in defensive score, twenty seventh in opponent quick break factors per recreation, twenty eighth in opponent factors within the paint per recreation, twenty seventh in opponent second likelihood factors per recreation and twenty fifth in defensive rebounding proportion.
However on the identical time, Los Angeles is taking part in shorthanded with out ahead Jarred Vanderbilt, massive males Christian Wooden and Jaxson Hayes and beginning goalie Austin Reaves.
LeBron James identified that it is a main strain on the group to attempt to win video games with out these 4 rotation gamers.
By way of ESPN:
“Due to the mismatch between rosters, we’re clearly looking for methods,” James stated. “So it’s totally tough. We do not have numerous margin for error. … These are massive, massive, massive, massive items.”
Specifically, Los Angeles is lacking Reaves, an undrafted guard who has flourished over the previous two years as a key piece on the group. He is averaging 16.7 factors and 4.8 assists per recreation this season, and he is missed the final 4 video games because of a pelvic contusion he suffered Nov. 29 towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder .
With out his capacity to create for himself and others, added strain was positioned on James, 39, to be the Lakers’ major catalyst.
After a really tough interval, James performed very properly within the final two video games. Nevertheless, it will not be sufficient for him to placed on his cape: the Lakers want extra from different gamers to get out of their present malaise.
A part of that should come within the type of injured gamers returning to play for them.
This text was initially printed on LeBron Wire: LeBron James explains why the Lakers are struggling
