*Some NSFW language*
The All-Star break is over. Time for teams to get back to work. This is the most exciting time in the NBA. With fewer games left now on the schedule, teams are getting serious as they get ready for the fight of their playoff lives. The fun and games are O-V-E-R. For the Lakers, it's the most daunting challenge. They have a steep mountain to climb as they trail closely behind the Clippers and the Kings in the race for the 8th seed. The bad news? The Lakers are facing their difficult stretch of the season. Yes, against the top-notch teams that are locking in their playoff position in either conference. This stretch is the measuring stick to see how playoff-ready this team is. Are they up for the challenge? This is this week's Lakers Weekly Roundup.
Keep in mind I combined last week's games with this week's games. I mean, the Lakers just had two games last week. We'll get back to normal in the next week. Without further ado, here's the lengthy Weekly Roundup.
02/21: vs. Houston 106-111 [W] (29-29)
HIGHLIGHTS
Right out of the gate, let's test that playoff intensity after the All-Star break by going up against the surging Houston Rockets. The Rockets have owned the Lakers this season with their flippity floppity tactics. This 4th installments had much more flavor than the last two. Mainly because Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul are on the floor. It feels like it's been ages since that infamous brawl between the two Point Guards back in the 2nd game when the season was still young that reignited this rivalry. And Laker fans since the 70's were taken a trip down memory lane when Kermit Washington sucker punched Rudy Tomjanovich as Rondo landed the 1-2 punch on CP3. On to the present matchup, it looked like the Rockets were going to run away with this. CP3 and Harden were up to their fancy old floppity flop flop bullshit to swindle out a victory against the Lakers. However, Playoff Intensity: ON. King James and the SlenderIngram commanded the Lakers to a rally against the Houston Floppets. Even the refs had enough of the Rockets' flopping ways that Harden and CP3 called out the head referee of this game, Scott Foster. Harden threw a tantrum. CP3 threw a tantrum and got T'd. Mike D'Antoni was up-in-arms. Not so much fun when the calls are not in your favor now is it?
In all seriousness, I was impressed with B.I.'s performance this game. Looks like he's finding his way to get more comfortable playing off ball while still being his aggressive usual self. Reggie Bullock was huge too with some key three pointers down the stretch to seal the win for the Lakers. I'll warm to the trade a little bit. Laker debut was flop, but he's making some okay all-around contributions.
02/23: @ New Orleans 115-128 [L] (29-30)
HIGHLIGHTS
All I wish for the Lakers is to build some consistency after a big win. They didn't do so before the break when they got a thrilling victory over the Celtics in Boston. Hopefully, they had the chance to look back and learn from some mistakes.
They didn't.
How in the hell do you lose to Pelicans team that sat Anthony Davis down for this game and traded away one of their stretch 4 sharpshooters in Mirotic? I should be riding high on this team after a big win against the Rockets, but games like these are the reason why I hold back because this team will find a way to say "fuck you" when it looked like things were coming along just fine. "Oh, their best player is not playing. Let's take it a little easy." If this is the attitude that the Lakers are giving against teams that they should beat, then there is a reason why they're two spots away from the 8th seed. Distrust among players after the trade drama. LeBron James questioning the mentality of this team after this ugly loss when he and Magic tried to boot them out. It's even worse that they left Luke Walton, yes there own head coach behind after this game on the bus ride back to the hotel. Oh by the way, for those who are watching ex-Lakers: Julius Randle had 24 points and connected on two 3-pointer. He's having a solid season for the Pelicans. (For fucks sake, WHO THE FUCK'S IN CHARGE OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ON THIS TEAM??????)
02/25: @ Memphis 105-110 [L] (29-31)
HIGHLIGHTS
0-2 on a road trip against sub .500 teams. Not a good look for a team with playoff aspirations on the line here. My goodness this Grizzlies team is not even good. Since they traded away Marc Gasol, they consist of a group of washed up vets/misfits. Despite some solid efforts by the Lakers' Big 3 of LeBron, B.I., and Kuz, the Lakers fell short as the offense became stagnant as LeBron's effort on defense late in the game. The starting five did its job. The bench failed them here. 7 points compared to the Grizzlies' 33 points in bench scoring has never nor will win any games. It's clear as day that the Lakers left their playoff intensity at home during this road trip. They find themselves with a 4% chance now of making the playoffs as they're placed back at the 11th seed.
02/27: vs. New Orleans 119-125 [W] (30-31)
HIGHLIGHTS
Ah yes, Anthony Davis suits up this game as he travels with the Pelicans since the trade drama. If the Lakers struggled against the Pelicans on the road without A.D., what more when they have him on the floor? A.D. did damage because Luke Walton thought it would be a great idea to match up Kyle Kuzma against one of the best big man in the league. Fortunately, the Pelicans had nothing to gain. So, they sat A.D. down after the 3rd quarter. This is something teams do in the preseason. How rare is it that you find a team that shuts their star player down in a regular season game when the outcome is not even decided? The Lakers are not the only team with internal issues. Despite the Pelicans decision, they still competed behind a 35-point effort by Julius Randle and a couple of three balls. But, here comes that playoff intensity as "Deus ex LeBron" bails the Lakers out from impending doom. Let's break down some stat lines here: LeBron, 33 pts, 6 reb, 10 ast. B.I., 23 pts. Kuzma, 22 pts. Rondo, 11 pts, 7 reb, 16 ast. Bullock, 14 pts. For the Lakers to win out, they need statistical output like these from their starting five on a consistent basis. Quality bench contribution is another bonus. Well, playoff mode for the Lakers came back after it hit a snag on the road. Fortunately, the Lakers got some significant help on this night as the Jazz topped the Clippers and the Bucks pulled out a thrilling OT win against the Kings. The race for the 8th seed in the West is far from settled.
03/01: vs. Milwaukee 131-120 [L] (30-32)
FULL RECAP HERE
The NBA has entered the month "March Madness." This time, NBA teams are serious about jockeying for position for playoff spot. Every game at this month is MUST-WIN. And the Lakers' efforts certainly showed against the East-leading Milwaukee Bucks. The Lakers did everything they can to spring the upset. Unfortunately, they gassed out in the 4th quarter against a better team. Good teams find ways to win.
03/02: @ Phoenix 109-118 [L] (30-33)
HIGHLIGHTS
Boy, did I have a feeling something would go wrong in this game? When an aspiring playoff-team loses to the Phoenix Suns, a franchise that is the living embodiment of mediocrity, then truly the sky is falling down. The Lakers have owned the Suns this season, but they couldn't get the job done in getting the sweep. This team isn't even good despite the likes of Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton. The Lakers did attempt to rally in this game though. But I'm sorry, if you have to rally and come from behind against a mediocre Phoenix squad, then there's serious problems. Ask yourself this my fellow Lakers fans, do you really think this team is good enough to make some noise in the playoffs? The fact they loss to the shittier teams like the Hawks, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Cavs, and Suns, and swept by the Magic is the team's mark of being a pretender. Even if Lonzo Ball comes back, that's a big IF, this team is gonna have to run a really tough gauntlet if you look at the schedule this month. Playoff Mode has been activated alright. Unfortunately, the free trial ended in the win against Houston.
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