LAKERS @ Clippers Halftime Post

Score: LAL 52 LAC 70

Alright, welcome in to your 1st halftime post for 2014 where the Lakers take on hallway rival, Clippers and so far, Lob City is taking it to the Lakeshow 52-70 without Chris Paul on the floor.

The Lakers, we all know that they've been on a downward spiral dating back to the loss against Golden State on December 21, most of it due to injuries, lack of depth, etc. It's unfortunate to see the Lakers in this kind of state and the trend continues.

Let's go with the positives, Kendall Marshall, scoring 12 points on 4-7 shooting and dishing out 4 assists. Marshall, the last few games, has been displaying decent performances facilitating well and scoring, especially shooting from the outside. He made a couple shots this game to keep us within striking distance before the Clippers responded with stifling defense and generating turnovers to score easy points. Another positive, Wesley Johnson scoring 14 points on a perfect 5-5 shooting. Wes has also been playing solid as of late, the numbers don't reflect it, but he's finding ways to be efficient and I like his activity as always and especially displaying that efficiency this game finding open lanes for easy baskets and taking high percentage shots when necessary.

Onto the negatives, the turnovers. I sound like a broken record bringing that negative up every game, but it's becoming annoying every game. D'Antoni's gotta keep preaching for this team to take care of the ball, especially lacking point guards. The Clippers were scoring at will, generating flash photography as well off those 9 turnovers the Lakers committed in the 1st quarter. Another negative, foul trouble and it's obvious the Clippers are getting more physical in the paint to generate those fouls. Again, lack of a true rim protector and it's affecting this outcome.

The 2nd half is underway. This current trend is not about physical toughness, but about mental fortitude and the Lakers if they're not contempt about tanking have to display some mental toughness to fight through a huge hole with a patchwork lineup that has been displayed in the Lakers' current downward trend.