Whatever is wrong with the Los Angeles Lakers, as revealed in the final 10 minutes of their one-point loss to the Indiana Pacers on Monday, the team needs to come together to solve bigger problems than many assumed. will play for the number 1 selection
After beating the Lakers 116–115, LeBron James said, “Everything has to go wrong to lose a game like this, and everything went wrong.”
Here are the three biggest things they failed: Three things the Lakers should worry about going forward, despite better basketball recently.
History says he is right, but this season, the decline in James’ shooting ability may be a real sign of decline. And if this happens quickly, the Lakers’ problem may be too big to be solved. As the Lakers struggled to get going in the fourth quarter, some of the issues re-emerged when Indiana whittled down their 17-point lead with 10 minutes to go. (Real Sign Of Lebron James’ Downfall? 3 Takeaways From The Lakers Loss To The Pacers)
The Lakers, especially in the final two minutes, were unable to clear possessions as the Pacers dominated the board, leading to second chances. While Anthony Davis pointed to the effort as an important part of working the glass, the Lakers’ closing lineup, which included guards Austin Reeves, Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schroder, was not really big. Two players the team relied on for sideline minutes, Lonnie Walker IV and Troy Brown Jr., were ineffective enough for the Lakers to remain small, even as Schroder finished a team-worst -16. , while Tyrese Halliburton tortured the Lakers’ defense.
Patrick Beverley, serving the last of a three-game suspension for pushing Deandre Ayton, certainly would have helped with the rebounding, but the Lakers’ lack of size and depth on the wings was certainly a big factor. (Real Sign Of Lebron James’ Downfall? 3 Takeaways From The Lakers Loss To The Pacers)
It’s part of the reasoning behind trading Westbrook: get back two role players (or more) for one, which helps rebalance the roster.
With the Lakers playing through Davis at least late in the game (he only had two shots in the fourth quarter on Monday), James was anticipated to be a problem before he returned from injury. If the Lakers’ path to winning the game is through Davis dominating the offense, then giving him the ball and getting him to the free throw line should be a priority.
As the Lakers pressed late in the first half, Davis repeatedly got to the free throw line. His only two free throw attempts in the fourth quarter were due to fouls. (Real Sign Of Lebron James’ Downfall? 3 Takeaways From The Lakers Loss To The Pacers)
Ham said of the Lakers’ late offense, “You get an advantage like that, the free throw line allows you to keep your lead and I wish we could have been more aggressive, continued to play at pace.” “And also keep organizing yourself and moving the ball. That falls on me. That falls on me. I will take responsibility for it.”
Increasing Davis’ fourth quarter production in close games should be a priority, and while the Lakers have said it is, they need to prove it.
