FOUR LOSSES IN A ROW.
Let that sink in. The Lebron James and Anthony Davis-led Los Angeles Lakers have lost four games in a row, tonight’s loss denying me of my most coveted Christmas present: a win.
I’m pissed, I really am. One could make excuses for their previous three losses being that Lebron and AD didn’t play in a couple of them, but there’s no excuse for tonight’s loss; they both played AND Kuzma was wet all night, leading the team with 25 points.
It’s hard to sit here and complain about a team that’s still 24-7, but there’s really some cause for concern with this team. There’s such a monumental drop off in talent after AD and Lebron it’s scary. Danny Green, a guy we’re supposed to count on to be a shooter only had six fucking points tonight! If Kuzma didn’t have such a hell of a game it no doubt would have been a lot uglier. Despite a decent stat line, Lebron played like shit tonight too, going 9-24 from the field, and turning over the ball on the Lakers last hope possession to end the game.
It doesn’t bother me that the Lakers blew a 16-point lead, or that the personification of low top black Air Force 1’s (Patrick Beverly) got Lebron to turn the ball over with seconds left in the game, it’s how they did it. This Lakers team simply just doesn’t want it as bad. I don’t think they’ve realized that they have a huge target on their backs, and that every team wants to beat their ass. They’re going to face the best version of whatever team they’re playing every night, which is the cost of having two superstars on one team. For example, the Clippers play differently against the Lakers; that’s the only way you can explain the fact that they’ve lost to the Suns and Pelicans, but have beaten the Lakers on both occasions. And it’s the same for every team the Lakers will play, because of the organization and the star-studded talent.
This Lakers team thinks they’re the shit because they started out hot, but what all of their losses have shown is that they can’t win the big game. All their losses have been to top teams – Clippers, Bucks, Mavs, Raptors, Nuggets, and Pacers.
It’s time to hit the panic button if I’m Rob Pelinka. With the star power on the Lakers roster, there’s no way they can continue to lose these types of games. At some point they’re going to have to beat a team like the Bucks or Clippers to establish their dominance…if not, they’re just a decent team that beats up on all the weak NBA teams as they should.
After this series of losses there’s no doubt in my mind they’ll put together a trade package for a legit guard in the next week or so. Bradley and Rondo, specifically are so bad, I want them off this team immediately. I really tried to give them a shot, but I don’t see hope for either of them. Guys like Dennis Schroder and JJ Redick have been tossed around in trade rumors with the Lakers, and honestly, either of those guys would be huge upgrades from Bradley and Rondo.
Regardless of what the front office is thinking at the moment, the Lakers seem to have been exposed, and they need to make a move or two to get themselves on par with the rest of the league. I’m tired of this shit.