A Season in Review: 2018-19 Lakers

*Some NSFW language*

This was quite a week for the Los Angeles Lakers and not in a good way. Perhaps the shitstorm that's going on in La La Land was right on queue for me to post our annual Season in Review post for the 2018-19 Lakers. What started as a season full of hope and optimism turned into a nightmare and it doesn't stop there with all the major turnover that is going on inside a franchise that was once the "gold standard" of the NBA. Let's recap a bit here.

When the Lakers brought in LeBron James, we were elated that the Lakers finally landed that superstar free agent they desperately coveted. They landed the NBA's biggest star and they were the talk of the league once again. To complement the acquisition of LeBron, Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka added Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, and Lance Stephenson, players all with playoff and championship saviness to help turn the Laker boys into men. With LeBron, the young core, and the one-year vets, the Lakers got off to a solid start. They played above .500 basketball, were #4 in the West, and they blew out the 2x defending champion Warriors in Oakland on Christmas Day. The game proved that the Lakers were back and they were back with a vengeance.

And simultaneously after that game, the Lakers were never the same again. The Lakers lose LeBron on a groin injury and he dozed off to the bright lights of Hollywood, caring more about Space Jam 2 and his collab with 2 Chainz rather than bringing the Lakers back to prominence (hence the load management). It also doesn't help that the Lakers Front Office pretty much put the entire team on notice for one Unibrow in New Orleans in Anthony Davis. Let's be honest, both sides made piss poor PR moves in this trade drama. But, it hurt the Lakers more because after that, nobody seemed to trust nobody. No NBA GM trusts Rob Pelinka. No player on the roster trust LeBron and his Klutch Sports agency because they failed in pulling the strings to get Anthony Davis to LA to play with LeBron. As a result for this consolation, the Lakers still managed to pull off some trades...by adding Reggie Bullock and Mike Muscala. **Excuse me while I take a step back and question reality.**

As LeBron went down with the groin injury, the injury bug spread to the Lakers' young core like a disease. Lonzo Ball never saw the court again with leg and ankle injuries. It's what happens when you wear those cheap, bootleg BBB sneakers. Brandon Ingram is currently fighting a career and life-threatening blood clot. Even with "playoff mode" activated, the burden was too much for LeBron to carry with a lot of postseason mileage and being in a competitive West instead of a weak East. The Lakers missed the playoffs yet again and Lou Williams and Patrick Beverly backed up their statements that the Clippers still have a stranglehold over LA given their more recent successes. 

Now that I've rambled on the general summary of how this season went, let's boil down to the shitshow that has happened in these couple days after a disappointing 37-45 finish to the season. Magic Johnson stepped down as President of Basketball Operations hours before the Lakers' final game against Portland. Maybe LaVar Ball was right, he was just the face of the Lakers, not a true basketball executive. Magic has a big smile and charismatic charm that he had since he came into the league. Unfortunately, that charisma has lead the Lakers to pay some hefty fines for tampering since he could not shut up about other teams' star players. Magic may be a business man, but he doesn't have a sharp eye for talent nor does he have the patience and competency in trusting a process. Exhibit A) trading D'Angelo Russell because he needed a "leader," Exhibit B) Putting the young core on the trade block to field a two-man superteam. No matter what happens, Magic is a powerful figure in Laker land regardless. He just doesn't have the moxie to coach or build a team. At least there's some things that Larry Bird has edged Magic out in. Per Magic's words, "he's a free bird now." Good luck Rob Pelinka, you're gonna need it.

A day after, the Lakers fire their athletic trainer. When a team has this many injuries in a season, definitely there has to be an overhaul of professional trainers and physical therapists. The tragic thing is, he was probably a protege of Gary Vitti, the Lakers' longtime athletic trainer until 2016. With the amount of injuries this season, obviously the Lakers need some new trainers to better condition players and make them as injury-free as possible.

As the Purple and Gold Rome burns day-by-day, the most inevitable departure happened. Head Coach Luke Walton gets the axe after three seasons. Both he and the Lakers "mutually parted ways." Despite coaching the Warriors to a 24-0 start, Luke was still green by pretty much inheriting his own team after being a part of the Steve Kerr coaching tree. We can't ignore the deficiencies that hindered his development. His rotations were questionable at best. He throws players out there, hoping some things work out rather than survey the matchups out there and sub in and out player to exploit some advantages. His set plays off timeouts were subpar at best. But let's be honest here, Luke could not properly establish the culture and system he wanted to bring to the Lakers because of high roster turnover in all of his three years with the Lakers. He was brought in to develop the young core. His first year, he intended to build a system around D'Angelo Russell. D'Lo gets traded, now Luke has to adjust around Zo, B.I., Kuz, and Randle. Randle leaves. Lakers bring LeBron and a couple of vets in and now, he can't fully implement his system because the "LeBron system" doesn't work that way. Despite all that, Luke helped improve the Lakers year-to-year from 26 wins to 35 wins to a whopping 37 wins. Yup, Luke was definitely the "fall guy" for the Lakers because the front office kept plugging square pegs into round holes around the roster. It wouldn't take long for Luke to find a job. He's a hot candidate for young teams in need of a player development-oriented coach.

Just when we thought the Lakers were trending in the right direction. The organization is being exposed into what it currently is: a Purple and Gold Shitshow. They've done it. They've pretty much become the Oakland Raiders of the NBA: a dysfunctional franchise that is clinging on to the glory days of the past. You know I thought it was only Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak that was destroying the Lakers from within, boy does it get worse with Jeanie Buss running the show? Honestly, what is the late Dr. Jerry Buss thinking about in the afterlife now as he sees his kids destroy his proud empire? You know? It's probably like what the late Al Davis is going through right now seeing Mark Davis burn the Raiders to the ground. It's tough to root for two dysfunctional teams that is making losing a normal conformity year after year after year: coaching carousels, high roster turnover, delusions of grandeur in chasing superstar free agents in their prime, vice versa, chasing the big names in the twilight of their career, and accumulating all kinds of draft assets and then stunting and demoralizing the growth of those young prospects because the front office does not know what the hell they're doing. 

The team is in shambles. They're pretty much rebooting the rebuilding process again. But, the biggest hurdle right now is the 4-year, $134 million contact they offered to bring an aging LeBron James in. Hmmm... doesn't this remind me of Kobe's final years? Hasn't the organization learn a goddamn thing that you must choose either to win now or build for the long-term and that there's no in-between the two paths? Especially with the latter being the better option among the two because it equates to long-term success? Look at how San Antonio built their team. Look at how Golden State built their team. The Lakers can't even try to develop and mold their own draft assets even if their organization's life depended on it. We get it, the draft is a 50/50 hindsight. The #1 pick is nearly a guaranteed superstar and the Lakers haven't had the luxury of a #1 pick in these past few years. But, this doesn't excuse the fact that the Lakers have accumulated a lot of young talent these past years only to throw them away as they find success elsewhere because the Lakers are so desperate to win championships right away. This is why free agents stay as far away as possible and I bet they're not even going to consider playing with LeBron and the Lakers with the shitshow that is going on there. Free agents do not care about past success, the amount of championships won, and the fact that it's the Lakers and it's LA. They care more about the long-term outlook of the team. Hence why the Lakers are horrifyingly out of touch with today's NBA! They're trending on a parallel path that has plagued the Raiders in the NFL since their Super Bowl hangover in 2002. "We can pry Jerry West away from the Clippers." Easier said than done given the Lakers had their chance and blew it. They have a GM that nobody trusts. The next head coach is likely a puppet of LeBron. Free agents are monitoring this situation closely and it's more likely than not that the Lakers have no Plan B because no top free agent would want to come and play in LeBron's shadow.

Jeanie Buss, the ball is in your court. If you don't have a long-term plan to turn the Lakers around, then I'm afraid it might be time for a changing of the guard in ownership. For most of us fans that continue to preserve the "championship or bust" mentality, it's time to look in the mirror. Otherwise, the Lakers would continue to be in an endless loop of rebuilding and tearing back down and the cycle won't stop until they have a firm plan and identity in place for the long run. That's my rant/review for the year. We'll see what's in store for the offseason.

Lakers Weekly Roundup (03/31): Oh, Now They Start Winning?

*Some NSFW language*

A few more games after this week remain. It's a time where good teams start resting their star players sitting comfortably in their playoff spots and where bad teams start picking up G-League players to showcase their potential in making the team. The Lakers have long been eliminated from the playoffs, but they still play on as the NBA demands it. It was a March to forget about as the Lakers took so many L's that they doomed their playoffs hopes. Now ever since they were eliminated, they started playing better. Let's be honest here, they played against teams that are tanking or have no shot at the playoffs whatsoever this week. As they pile up meaningless W's, they are on pace to break their win total from last year, despite finishing under .500 yet again, which is a big disappointment considering they went from 26 wins to 35 wins in Luke Walton's first two years as Head Coach. And more likely than not, he's fired by season's end. Let's get to the bottom of this week's Lakers Weekly Roundup.

03/26: vs. Washington 106-124 [W] (33-41)

HIGHLIGHTS

Lance Making Jeff Green Dance

You know? Games like this makes me wish that the NBA had an option to flex out games that are not worthy for national television. Kinda like what the NFL does. I mean, nobody wants to see two NFL teams with losing records headlining a Sunday Night game. It's understandable why this was nationally televised from the get-go. The Wizards were projected to be playoff team this year and LeBron James has made the Lakers relevant again and must-see TV. Now, these are two teams out of the playoff hunt and riddled with injuries. This game was easy pickings for the Lakers when Washington's only offense this game came out of Bradley Beal,  who's on an all-around tear these last few games. Beal had 32 points this game, but the Lakers beat the John Wall-less Wizards on an all-around team win. Ironic to say considering they tried to tear this locker room apart. But, it was all fun and games here. Lance Stephenson had the highlight of the night this game crossing up Jeff Green and making the Laker bench and Staples Center lose their minds. Even though Green clearly stepped on Lance's foot and slipped. With the game well out of reach, the Lakers debut their recent G-League tryout, Scott Machado, signed to a 10-day deal.

03/27: @ Utah 100-115 [L] (33-42)

HIGHLIGHTS

Back-to-back set, so no LeBron here. The Lakers were bound to lose this game. It's always a hostile crowd in Salt Lake City. With the Lakers having nothing to play for, the Jazz were well within reach of a playoff berth if they win this game. The Jazz took care of business behind a stellar game from Joe Ingles. John Stockton was reincarnated as an Aussie this game as Ingles carved up the Lakers with his passing, racking 14 assists and making Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors look good. Congrats Jazz, you've clinched a playoff berth. Nothing more to say here.

03/29: vs. Charlotte 115-129 [W] (34-42)

HIGHLIGHTS

Hornets fans, you have to implore his Airness to give Kemba Walker some help. The guy does so much for this team, but he's surrounded by a shit supporting cast. Lucky for the Hornets, they play in the East and their playoff hopes are still faintly alive. But, the Lakers dampen those playoff hopes a bit with this win as LeBron continues his shutout in head-to-head matchups against Kemba. I just found out that he has a 28-0 record all-time against him. That should be good enough for LeBron. Now, let's shut him down for the rest of the season.

03/31 @ New Orleans 130-102 [W] (35-42)

HIGHLIGHTS

Following up from the last post, the Lakers announced prior to this game that LeBron James will not play the rest of the season. I'd say it's a wise move. The guy has a lot mileage with 8 straight finals appearances and he hasn't been 100% since the groin injury in December. The playoffs are well out of reach, so there's no reason to push him to play out the remainder of the season.

Now that's that, time to give the Pelicans another beating for helping sabotage the Lakers' chemistry. Funny enough, the Pelicans listed Anthony Davis as probable for this game, then they ruled him out at the last minute. Honestly, who'd be stupid enough to play their disgruntled star player at this point of the season? To smite the team that tried to trade for him? Okay. Activate Alex Caruso's bald spot! Before we get into that, this was a revenge game for Rondo against his former team and he showed out with 24 points, 12 assists, and 2 steals. McGee also contributed with 23 points and 16 rebounds. But, it was the brilliant shooting of Alex Caruso and Reggie Bullock off the bench this game to help blow the Pelicans. Caruso lead the bench with 23 points to go along with 6 assists and 4 steals. He's been nothing short of solid when given the opportunity to go off the bench. But, we gotta give credit to the Laker defense in the 2nd half to spring the hot shooting. I was checking the plays on the Yahoo Sports app and they forced the Pelicans to turn the ball over like crazy to ignite the rout. Well, I'd say this probably the Lakers' last easy W this season. They got five more games against playoff contenders in the West (Golden State, Portland, OKC, Utah, Clippers). They'd be lucky to catch some of those teams resting players. Probably the team that won't likely rest players are the Warriors as they are neck-and-neck with the Nuggets for the #1 seed in the West. I probably won't be doing weekly roundups the rest of the way. I'll be heading straight for the annual Season-in-Review post. Anyway, here's to a strong finish to the season!

Lakers Weekly Roundup (03/24): Eliminated From Playoff Contention

*Some NSFW language*

It was only inevitable. But thank goodness it's finally over. After taking so many L's this month, the Lakers have been eliminated from playoff contention. There are three reasons for this underwhelming season 1) injuries 2) the failed fire sale for Anthony Davis 3) chemistry ruined by Magic, Rob, and LeBron pulling the string behind the scenes. In a 2nd half of the season that was full of drama, the Lakers have ruined in what was their most promising start from the 4th seed to eliminated. And the drama doesn't stop there. While this was overshadowed by LeBron's influence to urge the Lakers to build a superteam and bring Anthony Davis, tensions arise within the Big Baller Brand as Lonzo Ball did the unthinkable: leaving BBB for Nike. Those BBB shoes are probably the reason why he was injury-prone these past two seasons. Not to mention, their co-founder committed some fraud. Ouch. So much for the BBB empire. Then, there's the search for a new head coach. It's inevitable that Luke Walton is gone by season's end. Rumors of Jason Kidd possibly being next in line is starting to pick up steam. To paraphrase his own words, it's hard to pass up a franchise that breeds championship DNA. That hasn't been the case the past few seasons. So, let's round and solve the problem of the Lakers' being mathematically eliminated in this week's Weekly Roundup.

03/19: @ Milwaukee 101-115 [L] (31-40)

HIGHLIGHTS

The Lakers wrap up their 4-game road trip with a visit against the best team in the East. This was a guaranteed beatdown for the Bucks. No LeBron. No Zo or B.I. Even if the Bucks were without the Greek Freak, they're roster is still loaded. The Bucks had control for the majority of the game. That's until the 4th quarter where they tried to give the game away to the Lakers. KCP  or Kenny as the Lakers social media nicknamed him during this game's recap helped lead the way, going off with 35 points. But, the Bucks depth showed by the end of the game. Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez came to save the day to avoid an embarrassing disaster without their MVP. But on the flipside, they lose a key piece in Nikola Mirotic.

03/22: vs. Brooklyn 111-106 [L] (31-41)

HIGHLIGHTS

The stipulation is simple, if the Lakers lose this, it's officially over for their postseason aspirations. This presents an opportunity for the would-be successor of the Lakers. Yes, it had to be destiny that the one to bury the playoff hopes of the Purple and Gold would be D'Angelo Russell, the Lakers' former #2 pick of 2015. If we look at the trade in hindsight, the Lakers drew first blood on the trade. Then, the Nets came out connecting on a huge haymaker through D'Lo's All-Star play this season. He singlehandedly has the Nets primed for playoff ball in the East. The Lakers battled all game thanks to a monster game by JaVale McGee. I guess trading for Zubac would've been worth it if he put up these numbers: 33 points, 20 rebounds, 15-20 shooting, 6 blocks. It felt like prime Shaq was reincarnated. Ironic for the former Shaqtin' a Fool legend. But it wasn't enough as LeBron stumbled and tumbled down the stretch and the Nets grinded out another win over the Lakers. Poetic justice for D'Lo. Now for the sixth straight season, the Lakers get to sit on the couch during the postseason. *ELIMINATED* *Seppuku sounds* *UrinatingTree fans will get this reference*

03/24: vs. Sacramento 106-111 [W] (32-41)

HIGHLIGHTS

Oh, now they finally start winning. Where was this effort the last few games? But, it's the Kings. Even though Sacramento has improved through their young core of Fox, Hield, and Bagley III, they'll need a few veteran pieces to take the next step to the playoffs. Not to mention, they were coming off back-to-back sets. As meaningless as this was, it was good to see the Lakers finally win a game. The King and KuzMania powered the Lakers to this victory with 29 points each coming from both players. McGee didn't have a scoring explosion, but still contributed a double-double and almost half a dozen blocks. At this point, the Lakers have nothing to play for but pride. It would be an absolute miracle for this team to have some sort of shot at Zion Williamson in the NBA draft.

Lakers Weekly Roundup (03/17) - Tank for Draft Pick Mode Activated

*Some NSFW language*

Oh, hi guys! You're still here checking on the status of the LakeShow. Well, let's just say that after a shitty start to March, arguably the most important month for playoff-aspiring teams, the Lakers' playoff hopes are dead. If you've been living under a rock these last few days, Lonzo Ball is shut down for the season. Brandon Ingram (best wishes to him), shut down as well. LeBron James? Held to a minutes restriction and will sit out on back-to-back nights. And why even bother? This roster is so shorthanded that it's filled with nothing more but players who barely get any playing and G-Leaguers.

In this week, LeBron returns out to the East one last time. The Lakers embark on their 5-game road trip to the East Coast that will culminate on Tuesday against the Bucks. No more dramatic intros, let's jump right into this week's Lakers' Weekly Roundup.

03/12: @ Chicago 123-107 [W] (31-36)

HIGHLIGHTS

Congratulations Lakers, you've finally won a game in March. But, not like it matters anyway. This is a Bulls team that's not even good and is still in rebuild mode. I'll give the Lakers credit. Chicago had an 18 point lead in the first quarter. Then the Lakers stormed right back en route to a victory. This is all powered by big games from LeBron, Kuzma, and surprisingly, KCP. LeBron lead the team with 36 points. This game was literally LeBron in "showoff mode" as he wowed the United Center crowd with some exhibition-esque dunks off the break.

03/14: @ Toronto 98-111 [L] (31-37)

HIGHLIGHTS

Following the victory against Chicago, that's the Lakers' last freebie W as they go up against The North, one of the top two teams of the East. The Raptors have freed themselves from LeBronto earlier this season. Now, the Raptors' next task is to liberate the actual city of Toronto from remnants of LeBron during the last few years. Despite LeBron's 29 points, the Raptors' depth proved to be too much for the wounded Lakers. At least Alex Caruso had a great game off the bench with 16 points.

03/15: @ Detroit 97-111 [L] (31-38)

HIGHLIGHTS

LeBron this, LeBron that. I am ESPN at this point, but we get a break here on back-to-back nights. LeBron is held out to once again, "Load Management." But that doesn't stop LeBron from hogging the spotlight as he's shown laughing on the bench and wiping himself with a handkerchief. To be honest, I wasn't sure what he's laughing at. Maybe it's the sad realization that he'll be missing the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Trust me, I'd be laughing too if I saw Mike Muscala starting or having a lineup of Andre Ingram, Isaac Bonga, Alex Caruso, Mo Wagner, and Johnathan Williams on the floor this game. It's like I'm watching the South Bay Lakers. Not to poke further fun, Caruso had a good game again off the bench and Andre Ingram has won the hearts of Lakers fans with his inspiring two-game performance last season. But, the final result was expected as Detroit is literally fighting for their playoff lives in the East.

03/17: @ New York 123-124 [L] (31-39)

HIGHLIGHTS

Ah yes, the game that will forever etched Mario Hezonja's name into Knicks lore. The Knicks have their own rendition of "The Block" as Hezonja came up with a key block on LeBron James in the final seconds of the game. After that, I'm probably convinced that Father Time is catching up to 'Bron. LeBron put up 33 points this game, true. But, 0-6 from 3-point land! I've been saying this all this time, his field goal stats are inflated because he attacks and plays bully ball inside. You force him to make an outside shot, he'll tend to struggle. To be swept by the East's punching bag, there's no greater shame to summarize the Lakers' 2nd half meltdown of the season.

Lakers Weekly Roundup (03/10): Disneyland & Cancun Mode: Activated

*Some NSFW language*

Wave the white flag! Throw in the damn towel! By the looks of how this March is going, it looks like the Lakers will be eliminated from playoff contention for the sixth straight season. Playoff Mode was activated, but the Lakers did not purchase the full version of it. As I said, this month was going to be integral for the Lakers to run the table and win out despite that fact that this stretch is their toughest test of their playoff-bound fortitude. However, by the looks of what transpired this week, it's time to stick a fork in these Lakers. This is your Lakers' Weekly Roundup.

03/04: vs. LA Clippers 113-105 [L] (30-34)

HIGHLIGHTS

As if the start of March can't get anymore pathetic for the Purple and Gold. This was a MUST-WIN for the Lakers as they are about three games back from the Clippers for the 8th seed. Any win against little brother affects playoff implications and helps the Lakers creep closer to within striking distance for the final playoff spot. I was not surprised that they drop this game. Let's spot the Lakers this: Brandon Ingram was hurt this game from carrying this team. To lose him in a desperate time like this is a microcosm of how the season is dwindling in a downward spiral since the decisive victory against Golden State in December. Prior to this game, Ivica Zubac provided what should've been major ammo for the Lakers. He basically said that he was having more fun with the Clippers than he did with the Lakers and these Clippers are "locked in" with their eyes on the prize of the postseason. Back in the day, teams will take this as bulletin board material and try to make their former teammate's life a living Hell. Not today in this day and age of the NBA.

In this game, both the Clippers and Lakers were pretty much neck and neck. Though the close game doesn't overshadow any lowlights on the Lakers' end, particularly centering around LeBron James. You know it's bad when Kuzma has to push you to play D. Or it's bad when you let the ball roll across the timeline, pick it up, and try to pull up from deep and it rattles out in an epic fail fashion. Or when you're infatuated in passing the GOAT on the all-time scoring list rather than leading the team to a much-needed W. Oh and outside of Rondo, the supporting cast wasn't any better either.

The Clippers ultimately pulled away as Lou Williams did what he usually did in the 2nd half, take over the scoring. This was an all-around team win for the Clippers, something that is missing in the Lakers' English language dictionary as of late. As the Lakers try to gear up against the current #2 seed Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, it looks like they'll be even more shorthanded as Kyle Kuzma sustained an ankle injury late in this game. This is March Madness for the Lakers and not in a good way as those playoff chances continue to dwindle.

03/06: vs. Denver 115-99 [L] (30-35)

HIGHLIGHTS

Congratulations LeBron! You've surpassed Michael Jordan as the #4 all-time leading scorer in league history. One GOAT overlapping another GOAT, that's great. Now, the previous ruler of Laker Land that spanned a 20-year reign stands in your way. Honestly, it'd be super bipolar when LeBron passes Kobe on the all-time scoring list. Well, there goes 15-minutes of greatness personified. Let's not distract us from the fact that you went 0-4 from the free throw line to start and finished with a 38% shooting from the stripe. GOAT! Or when you did the same thing in the Clippers game where you rolled the ball across the timeline and lost control of it resulting in a turnover. GOAT! Destroying the upward trend of this team after an improved 35-47 campaign. GOAT! Proving me right that there would be baggage on you when the Lakers planned on bringing you in. GOAT! "But, ma groin." "I have no help." "Luke sucks." Not a single thing changes the fact that you're still a stat whore and chemistry killer that we grew to disdain even beyond the head-to-head wars vs. Kobe. Be lucky that a shortened season, Ray Allen, Kyrie Irving, and the league saved your legacy from being the best player in the world to never win a championship.

To no surprise, the Nuggets took advantage of the Lakers' lack of depth with injuries to Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, and Lonzo Ball. Though they almost did choke it away in the 2nd half. Let's be honest, they were on a losing skid because of shit like this. They couldn't close out a game for a team that's currently the #2 seed in the West. The Lakers had every chance to come back. But, stupid turnovers, missed shots, missed free throws, just a typical night of the Lakers throwing opportunity away. As if this team couldn't get any toxic, Rajon Rondo sat away from the rest of the team, next to some courtside fans as the game winded down. To make matters worse, now Brandon Ingram wants out of LA according to some rumors. I thought the Lakers cleaned the dysfunction out by firing Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak, but it's clear as day, that they let the dysfunction back in. As the Lakers continue to plummet down the standings, Lonzo Ball may not return at all this season. Maybe because LaVar is holding him out until Luke Walton gets the axe. And LeBron might be on a minutes restriction going forward. "Play Off" Mode activated.

03/09: vs. Boston 120-107 [L] (30-36)

HIGHLIGHTS

Let's get to some serious news first: Brandon Ingram will be loss for the rest of the season due to a deep venous thromosis (DVT) in his right arm. At this point, it's not clear if B.I. will pick up a basketball again. I'm no doctor, but anything related to blood clots has to be taken seriously. Chris Bosh's NBA career was cut short due to this kind of ailment. And it's quite sad that Ingram's scoring rampage since the All-Star break comes to a screeching halt like this. Especially, since this jeopardizes his young career. All we can hope for is B.I.'s speedy recovery and that this condition will not be recurring that he may have to step away from basketball for good. Godspeed B.I.

Now onto this game, with all the injuries, the playoff chances for the Lakers are dead at this point. They took so many L's at the beginning of this month against more of the better teams (with the exception of Phoenix). And the schedule ahead is still difficult for the Lakers to pull off a miraculous playoff push. Their next obstacle is against their arch-rival Celtics. This is not the same Celtics team that the Lakers played. After the beating they put on Golden State at Oracle on Thursday, one can assume those "Ugly, Green Leprechauns" have finally figured things out and turned the corner. Honestly, that team is at full strength while the Lakers had a patchwork "Fab Five" of Rondo, Caldwell-Pope, James, Wagner, and McGee. Despite a competitive first quarter, it was inevitable that the Lakers had no shot against a Celtics team at full strength. The only good things to take away here here is that Moe Wagner went off for 22 points and LeBron, of course, got his triple-double stats. Honestly, I would've rather saw Wagner develop as the Lakers' long-term "Stretch 5" this season. It doesn't make sense that you'd spend a first round pick on that guy and then trade for Muscala mid-season to fill in that role. Then again, he missed significant time at the beginning of the season with an injury. That hurt his growth. But at this point, let his feet get wet as this point from here on out is team evaluation to see who's good enough to the roster cut next season.

Lakers Weekly Roundup (03/03): Playoff Mode: ON?

*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.

Bucks Dampen Lakers Playoff Hopes

Welcome in to the full recap of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Milwaukee Bucks where the Lakers hung tight against the Bucks for 48 minutes. But in the end, the Bucks proved to be too much for the Lakers as they rally to beat the LakeShow 131-120.

It was fun until the final stretch fourth quarter. This game had a stomach-sickening finish. As the Lakers hit this stretch of the season, there's absolutely no room for error. And they had to get off a good start at the beginning of March. It was going to be tall task to knock off these Bucks. I can't say I'm not proud of this effort from the Lakers. But, this is an example of how good teams find ways to win. Milwaukee earned their status. They are no joke this year. It's either between them and Toronto for the East. Of course they have Boston and Philly creeping, but those two teams are head and shoulders above the rest. While the Lakers are trying to find their stride in the competitive West.

(+)

Brandon Ingram, 31 points, 8 rebounds, 13-21 shooting. B.I. continues his streak of 20+ point games. I've been watching the games and like I said he's finding his place on the team since the All-Star break and all the Anthony Davis trade fiasco. He's on a unbelievable streak. Tonight, he started off hot, going a perfect 8-8 from the field. He's so confident on his midrange and his ability to attack the basket. Of course, his first miss had to be a 3-point attempt, which he still needs to work on. That's the only thing missing from his itinerary. Of course, highlight of the night here: the poster dunk on Brook Lopez. I'm sure last year in those practices, Ingram wanted to dunk on him one day.

LeBron James, 31 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 10-19 shooting. LeBron turned on the playoff intensity once again here. We had a little scare again as he took a shot to the ribs from Ersan Ilyasova. We're like "oh no, not again." But, no problem as he's able to continue on and give the Bucks all kinds of problems when he makes his move to the hole. LeBron did enough with some heroics down the stretch, but it wasn't enough.

Rajon Rondo, 20 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 7-19 shooting. I was on the fence of leaving Rondo off this list. Rondo attempted 12 threes tonight. He was missing all kinds of open shots and I believe on his 7th attempt, he started hitting the three-ball. Terrible start for Rajon, but he was able to make it up with some key plays and key buckets down the stretch.

(-)

Final seconds of the 4th quarter. Eric Bledsoe with a couple of and 1's. There was a stretch where the Lakers were up 116-118 and had a possible possession for another score, but they threw it away. KCP had an ugly inbounds pass to LeBron, which pretty much sealed the game as Brogdon hit a dagger three. Then after, the Lakers had spent all their offense and they couldn't buy a bucket down the stretch. If anything, good teams find ways to finish. The Bucks were challenged the whole game and down the stretch of the game, they found ways to come up big.

Eric Bledsoe, 31 points. When it looked like the Lakers were gonna run away en route to an upset win, in comes Eric Bledsoe to save the day. Giannis put up some numbers, but didn't have that MVP-esque impact Bucks fans were accustomed to see. However, it was Bledsoe  that stepped up. He's proven in his career that he's a lightning fast guard and once he has a step over his defender, he's already to the basket. Even more frustrating is his ability to balance scoring and facilitating. The Lakers couldn't keep a body up front on him nor could they keep up when he's ready to attack. There's no doubt Bledsoe killed the Lakers here. He sparked the late run in the third quarter. And he took the game over late in the fourth quarter with a couple of consecutive and 1's.

MVP

Brandon Ingram, 31 points, 8 rebounds, 13-21 shooting.

LeBron James, 31 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 10-19 shooting.

One of the rare times I give out co-MVPs. I haven't done that since Josh Hart and Gary Payton II at the end of last season. They've been carrying this team during this stretch. LeBron despite some lapses, will put up numbers and keep the Lakers afloat. Ingram has broken out during this stretch. They're the MVPs this game.




Conclusion

I heard after this game, the Bucks are the first team to clinch a playoff spot. Good for them, they deserve it. As I said, this month is going to be the Lakers' hardest stretch if they want to keep playoff hopes alive. They have Milwaukee twice this month. They have to go on a road trip to Toronto. They have some key matchups against the Clippers and the Kings that'll determine playoff implications. Oh, and there's also Denver and Boston to look out for as well. The margin of error is so slim if the Lakers are hoping to snag that last playoff spot. I swear if they lose to Phoenix tomorrow after a draining loss like this, then I feel it's over for this team barring a big-time choke by the Clippers and/or Sacramento. We'll see what this Lakers team is made of. Fight or flight from here on out. I'll see you guys later.

03/01: LAKERS vs. Bucks 2nd Half Open Thread

King James and the Lakers, Greek Freak Giannis and the Bucks, 2nd half open thread of this matchup. As usual, leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game!

Q4

MIL 131 LAL 120

Ugh, what a bitter finish to the game. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3

MIL 93 LAL 94

The only good thing was that the Lakers were able to reclaim the lead. They put the Bucks in early foul trouble to set up the disparity from the free throws. It was quite a fun 3rd quarter early on. Highlight of this quarter? B.I. dunking all over Brook Lopez. I'm sure Lopez was thinking twice about his decision to leave LA for Milwaukee. But he's with a good team now. All was good, but Eric Bledsoe singlehandedly brought the Bucks back with his scoring and playmaking. He's so fast that the Lakers couldn't keep him in their front view mirror. He still has that quick step to burn you to the basket. Anyway, strong finish needed to close this game out.

03/01: LAKERS vs. Milwaukee Bucks 1st Half Open Thread

Welcome to the first half open thread of the Lakers' Friday Night matchup vs. the Milwaukee Bucks. Playoff implications at stake right here against an elite team in the East. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q2

MIL 59 LAL 65

Now that was a much better finish to an overall strong first half from the Lakers. This is pretty much a playoff game for the Purple and Gold and they've answered the challenge. Milwaukee is getting some buckets for themselves. But, they're offense is not as crisp as Mike Budenholzer expects it to be. We gotta give credit to the Lakers' defense on that. They've disrupted the Bucks' flow a bit. In these last few games, I think we've figured out who LeBron's partner-in-crime is. Brandon Ingram stays hot. 16 points, a perfect 8-8 shooting to go with 6 rebounds. You look at his numbers since the All-Star break, 27 points, 29 points, 32 points, and 23 points in the past few games. It's a small sample size, but I think B.I. is starting to find his role on this team. Whether or not he retains this once Lonzo Ball returns (if he returns) remain to be seen, but we can't deny he has broken out and played better after the break. We've seen him turn it on a few times once the All-Star break is over. But, this is just on another level. So far, the Lakers are dictating the pace here in this game minus a couple of sloppy sequences where the Bucks took advantage and cashed in on some points. Not to mention, the Lakers had a lot of open looks, but players are not hitting their shots and they left a lot of points behind in this half. 2nd half will open up shortly.

Q1

MIL 27 LAL 26

Eh, a bitter finish to what was a strong 1st quarter. Slow start for both teams. It was a little ugly seeing Rajon Rondo miss a whole lot of wide open threes. As I said, the Bucks can live with him hitting those from deep since he's not that good. He hit one, but that's not saying much. Onto more positives, Brandon Ingram continues to be on a tear. He had 10 points this quarter and I believe he's leading the team in scoring early on. I'm really excited that he has come on since the All-Star break. Nonetheless, despite trailing by one, the Lakers shown they can keep up with these Bucks. The defensive activity was evident with LeBron hounding Brook and Muscala with the big block on Antetokounmpo before the buzzer.

See y'all tomorrow night for an open thread! #LakeShow

Lakers Weekly Roundup: All-Star Week Edition

*Some NSFW language*

With all the trade drama unfolding before the All-Star weekend, all I can say is I'm glad the NBA moved the trade deadline before All-Star weekend so that all this don't clout what should be a fun week for the league, its superstars, its players, and above all, the fans. With teams making moves for a playoff run and a run for the championship, one that stands above all was the shitstorm that went down in the Big Easy surrounding Anthony Davis and the Pelicans' trade dilemma. I've seen this shit way too many times since the fall of the glorious Purple and Gold after the 2012-13 season. Star players use the Lakers as a bargaining chip that if their demands aren't met, they'll bolt their team to play for the Purple and Gold.

And despite all them smoke and mirrors, nothing happens. The Anthony Davis trade saga has been added to the long list of failed recruitment of a superstar on the Lakers' part. Well, with the exception of LeBron, but even LeBron is an elephant in the room that other superstars don't want to deal with it.

It turns out that the Pelicans' played with our emotions of Anthony Davis coming to LA. The trade was nothing more but a ploy to destroy the morale of the Lakers and create a rift among King James and the Laker youngins. It was evident considering how Dell Demps never answered any of Rob Pelinka's calls to discuss a deal. Or the fact that he actually listened to Gregg Popovich's advice not to give the Lakers any life. This isn't the first time the New Orleans Pelicans showed the middle finger to the Lakers. Remember the deal in 2011 that would've sent Chris Paul to the Lakers? This time, the NBA wasn't involved in vetoing the deal. The Pelicans did this to the Lakers on their OWN volition. Smells like negotiating in bad faith doesn't it?

But as I look at it more clearly, it shows a weakness of the Lakers that has plagued them for quite some time now: they can't groom their own superstars. They're more inclined to pry away superstars from other teams, but not develop their own. This is a statement of fact: you shoot for the sure-thing rather than on potential. That is the Lakers' mentality and who can blame them? Lakers fans have had it of 6 years of organizational ineptitude and want this team to get back into championship form right away. That in itself is a good thing and a bad thing. The Lakers were content on growing their young core. But in order to please the King, they have to scrap that. I've addressed this like four years ago? It dates back to the dilemma in Kobe's later years. The Lakers put themselves in a limbo of building for the future and winning now. You must commit to one or the other and not have a balance of both. And it seems that the Lakers have not learned from their history with the hole they're in now.

But enough of my rant. A.D. or no A.D., the Lakers have a season to finish up. And they have a steep hill to climb if they want to return to glory. Keep in mind, I merged this week with last week's because the Lakers only had one game to play this week and it was off to the All-Star weekend. Here is a special Lakers' Weekly Roundup - NBA All-Star Week Edition!

02/05: @ Indiana 94-136 [L] (27-27)

HIGHLIGHTS

This is the same Pacers team that just lost Victor Oladipo for the season. And the Lakers still get their ass kicked. To bring out some advance LeBron stats: this is the worst loss by any LeBron-lead team in history! There's my ESPN impression for the day with non-stop LeBron coverage. There's not much to gauge from this ugly loss. The Pacers were on fire from beyond the arc. The Pacers 2nd unit also brought their A-game on this. And to add insult to injury, the Pacers fans brought their troll game on, chanting "LeBron's gonna trade you" to Ingram or that McGee was "not worth trading." I wanted to do a "Days of Our Steelers-esque" segment with this loss, but I'd be stealing from UrinatingTree. This loss definitely created more tension in the internal civil war that was LeBron vs. the Lakers

Trades for Reggie Bullock and Mike Muscala

The NBA's "Hunger Games" has come to past at on Thursday, 3:00 PST. Despite the foiled Anthony Davis deal, the Lakers weren't going to stop making moves to get turn this team into a championship team. The Lakers deal Svi Mykhailiuk to the Pistons for Reggie Bullock and they acquired Mike Muscala from the Clippers in exchange for Ivica Zubac and Michael Beasley. These are moves championship teams aspire to make indeed. Seriously? There are two purposes when NBA teams make trades: 1) to free up some cap space or accumulate some draft capital 2) get a quality player in return with either 1 or 2 years left on his contract that could help the team to get where they want to be which is postseason or the finals. What the hell kind of moves were these? The Lakers get a guy who's pretty much Jodie Meeks with hair and another stretch 5 in Muscala. Truly Zubac was a sacrifice to up his trade value by breaking out during this stretch of the season and send him packing for another stretch 5 who may not see significant playing time. Isn't that the reason why they grabbed Wagner in this year's draft? These moves were definite head-scratchers. Perhaps the Bullock trade was justifiable. The Lakers need as many shooters as they can. Inconsistency will once again play a major issue.

Team LeBron Assembly

LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo held their respective drafts for their All-Star teams last Thursday. Let's get a look at LeBron's roster. Such names include: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Bradley Beal, Ben Simmons, etc. Notice a pattern here? This is not just picking an All-Star team. This is LeBron's sales pitch to get these players to come play for him in LA. Only hindrance is the salary cap.

02/07: @ Boston 129-128 [W] (28-27)

HIGHLIGHTS

Forget the records. Forget which team is better at the moment. Forget that the Lakers just got blown out the other night by 42 freakin' points. This is the Lakers and Celtics we are talking about. The NBA's best rivalry right here. Don't be surprise if this comes down to the wire like all games do whenever the Lakers play at the TD Garden as of late. But the Celtics got a off to a hot start, leading as many as 13 at the half. Just like in Indiana, the Lakers' morale is broken with all the trade rumors and they could never recover. But a light shined upon the Purple and Gold as the King rode to battle on Kuz Control. The Lakers caught fire late lead by James and Kuzma. Final seconds ticked. No timeouts. The Celtics took the lead off a Kyrie Irving layup. Let's be honest, the Lakers rarely get it done in the final seconds with the ball in their hands nowadays. *Rondo hits game-winner* YEAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!! RONDO BABY!!!!!! SCREW YOU CELTICS!!!!! WE'RE BACK!!!!!!  Poetic justice indeed as Rondo comes back to Boston to break the hearts of his former-team. Let's be honest, the Lakers needed this win to boost the morale of the team. As the saying goes, winning cures all and what better way to bounce back against a perennial rival. Take notes Dodgers and Rams on how to beat a team from Boston.

02/10: @ Philadelphia 120-143 [L] (28-28)

HIGHLIGHTS

To ease all wounds sustained from the trade drama, Magic Johnson decided to fly over to the team and "hug-it-out." Everybody get in a circle, sing "Kumbaya" or whatever. Let's put this behind and start playing as a team again. However the Philadelphia 76ers could care less about the trade drama getting in the Lakers feelings. KuzMania ran wild for the Lakers in the first quarter. But, that was the only positive as the 76ers commenced the ass-whooping process. Lead by their new Big 4 with the acquisition of Tobias Harris, Philly Philly took care of some business. After an inspiring win, the Lakers outside Kyle Kuzma fell flatter than LeBron James' defense on a Ben Simmons dunk this game. And also, why the hell did Luke Walton thought it was a good idea to insert Reggie Bullock into the starting lineup immediately? To quote Rob Pelinka "teams should fear the Lakers in the playoffs." Well, there goes that statement after this blowout loss. It was just one game Rob. Just one game.

02/12: @ Atlanta 113-117 [L] (28-29)

HIGHLIGHTS

Rewind back to December of 2018, the Lakers despite having the superior talent were taken to the limit against a Hawks team that's in rebuilding mode. The difference was a game-saving block by Tyson Chandler to win it for the Lakers. That seemed like eons ago when the Lakers were among the Top 5 teams in the West. The Lakers play the Hawks and my goodness are they playing down to their level again. This team isn't even that good and yet you still stoop down to their level. The 4th quarter was as bad as NBA basketball can get as both teams missed shots and were playing sloppy basketball down the stretch. But, this one will go down as a gut-wrencher. You're playing for your playoff lives and you lose to the Hawks among all teams. Shame. Shame. Shame. Hello sub .500 my old friend.

Pelicans GM Dell Demps Fired

Karma works in mysterious ways. Prior to All-Star Weekend, the Pelicans announced that they've parted ways with longtime GM Dell Demps. The major factor of course was how he handled the Anthony Davis trade saga. And now AD is hurt. Well, that part is unpredictable. You can never predict when an injury might occur. But it was at that moment Demps should've known he f'd up. Could've had the entire Lakers roster. Then again, the Lakers are glad to have their roster in tact and not have to deal with the "Bayou Shitshow" anymore.

Lakers Weekly Roundup (02/03): Hell Week 1

The past week was dedicated to the buzz in downtown Atlanta as it built up to Super Bowl Sunday. But like always, the NBA just has to find its way to steal the thunder of the NFL and make headlines. Such that the NBA trade deadline is near. One blockbuster trade after another, the Lakers' quest for Anthony Davis continues to dominate headlines. The Lakers made competitive offers by giving up the entire roster outside of LeBron to get AD. But the Pelicans front office wouldn't budge due to outside sources telling them not to give him to the Lakers. Hmmm, why aren't they fined for tampering? There's no question, it is deal or no deal for Purple and Gold Royalty down to the final few days before the deadline. Especially it comes at a crucial time when they face their toughest stretch yet that blocks them from returning to glory. As trade talks swirl for now, the Lakers take center stage in this week's Weekly Roundup.

01/29: vs. Philadelphia 121-105 [L] (26-25)

HIGHLIGHTS

Talk about a breakout performance from Brandon Ingram as he exploded on this game with 36 points on 16-20 shooting. Good stuff B.I. But, that is irrelevant considering Philly's "Trust the Process" movement moved in and took what they wanted in LA. LakeShow's Delicious Turnovers were in business early on this game as the Lakers murdered themselves to death by their own turnovers to start. The 76ers were definitely the best customers for the night as they capitalized for points off turnovers. If it helps us sleep at night, the 76ers manhandled the Warriors at Oracle on Thursday.

01/31: @ LA Clippers 123-120 (OT) [W] (27-25)

HIGHLIGHTS

The Lakers are one more loss away from being at .500 and they are a few games back behind the Clippers for the 8th spot in the West. And still there's no sight of LeBron nearing a return as he's also ruled out for this-*sees headline that LeBron is back.* Never mind, it's the return of the King baby! "LeBron ex Machina" is going to come save the day and lead the Lakers back into contention! The Lakers get another big boost with the return of KuzMania! They're just missing Zo, but this team is good enough to compete at the least. We have LeBron back! Back in December, the Clippers beat a LeBron-less Lakers. Now, it's time to pay them back and show them who's the real LA team! The Lakers ballooned the lead in the 2nd half. Only to watch it squander in front of their faces. Ah even with King James' return, it's good to see that some things don't change, such as the Lakers blowing a big lead in the 4th quarter and heading into OT. Both teams tried to hand each other W's at the end of regulation, but they pulled the trigger on each other a little too soon with some boneheaded plays off timeouts. Fortunately, the Clippers showed that they are still the Clippers as their top free throw shooters miss some key free throws down the stretch and Tobias Harris threw up some bricks. Even at near full strength, the Lakers are in deep trouble if they teams like the Clippers hang around. This is why we can't have nice things.

02/02: @ Golden State 101-115 [L] (27-26)

HIGHLIGHTS

Before we dive into this game, LeBron James was healthy scratch for this. The reason? Load Management? That's the actual DNP for LeBron. Gregg Popovich did this a few years ago when he gave Tim Duncan a DNP because he's "old." But, load management? Why? Is it because simply saying "DNP - Rest" too mainstream? Understandably so, LeBron came back after significant time off. And they played until overtime the previous night against the Lakers. So that urged the Lakers' coaching staff to monitor him to ensure he gets back to 100%. Abandoned by the King yet again, the Lakers arrive to Oakland to challenge the Golden State gods in the Trial of Oracle. The Lakers fought valiantly, eventually building an 11 point lead in the third quarter against the Golden State gods. Even better, Steph, the god of Rainbow Threes lost his touch. Rarely do we see that. All was going well until the DeMarcus, the Emotional Lesbian god struck KuzMania in holy baptism. Thus, the Golden State gods decided they had enough and disposed of the Lakers easily in the fourth quarter. At least we can cling onto the fact that the Lakers blew the Golden State gods out by 27 on Christmas Day, which is still the largest margin of victory by either team head-to-head this season.

Lakers Weekly Roundup (01/27): "Kingdom Under Fire"

*Some NSFW language*

Let's be perfectly honest Laker Nation, not a lot has gone right for the Lakers since the injury bug hit them. As Purple and Gold Royalty continues to record staggering lows, perhaps it is time to make a move or two as most Laker fans are clamoring for it. Talks of Anthony Davis wanting out of New Orleans is heating up as the trade deadline nears with the Lakers being the preferred destination. Instead of the young core of Kuzma, Hart, Ingram, Ball, and Zubac being untouchable, they are now potential pieces for a blockbuster to acquire the services of the "Unibrow." In other news, the strings of losses since the injuries have possibly put Luke Walton's job in jeopardy. The King's camp is reportedly not happy of coach Luke's efforts to hold the team together. There may be some merit to justify Luke's firing, such as the team looks uninspired, demoralized, and overwhelmed against some of the better teams in the league. As the saying goes, coaches coach and players play. Laker fans in forums continue to lament on past young pieces, such that they wished they had D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle back as D'Lo continues to put Brooklyn on the map in an impressive winning streak or Randle still putting up pts and rebs and leading the 2nd unit for the Pelicans. Truly, it opens up a case of what-ifs. Maybe the team needs an overhaul on their player development staff or it's finally time for a "changing-of-the-guard" in ownership. Dear Jeanie, will you lead the Lakers back to the promised land? Or are you just another product of the late, great Dr. Jerry Buss's inheritance like your brother Jim before you? Hmmm, this does remind me of another guy who inherited his father's team and is currently burning it to the ground in Oakland and has no idea where to play before heading to Sin City. Nonetheless, this is your Lakers Weekly Roundup!

01/21: vs. Golden State 130-111 [L] (25-23)

FULL RECAP 

Thanos has arrived with all Infinity Stones in tact. That would be the new-look Warriors with a fully healthy DeMarcus Cousins going up against a Lakers squad with injuries to their top play makers. Luckily for the Lakers, the Golden State gods of Oakland decided to grant mercy on them as they only needed Klay, god of catch-and-shoot, to rain threes on them to the tune of 38 points in a 2nd half blowout. The other gods? They had the night off. But Steph, the god of rainbow threes took quite a Shaqtin' tumble in the 3rd quarter.

01/24: vs. Minnesota 120-105 [L] (25-24)

FULL RECAP

The Lakers get Rajon Rondo back. Finally, all is well for the flow of the Neo-Showtime offense. But, the Timberwolves decided it was feasting time on the glass and fastbreak points. You know it's bad when you let Andrew Wiggins play a meaningful game. Take that Jimmy Butler!

01/27: vs. Phoenix 102-116 [W] (26-24)

HIGHLIGHTS

To think this happened on the late, great Dr. Jerry Buss's birthday. I'm pretty sure he's turning in his grave after the current 5 years of pure shit in Lakers franchise history. But, the Lakers managed to channel some of the winning magic that Dr. Buss left behind. Well, then again this game was against the Suns. They're definitely going places with a Devin Booker who wants to pick fights with players in the locker room and a currently injured DeAndre Ayton. The Lakers get big-time contributions of 24 points from KCP, 24 points and 16 rebounds from Ivica Zubac, and  22 points Brandon Ingram. Plus  a guitar solo from Lance Stephenson off the bench to the tune of 17 points. The Lakers certainly needed this win as they embark on an upcoming hellacious stretch against some of the better teams in the NBA. LeBron, where art thou?

Timberwolves Pull Away in 4th Quarter to Beat Lakers

*Forgot to save changes in the master file, hence why I couldn't change the records. But as it stands, Minnesota improves to 24-24 while Lakers fall to 25-24.*

Welcome in to the full recap of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves where not even the return of Rajon Rondo wasn't enough to prevent the Lakers from being pummeled as the Timberwolves win in a 120-105 rout.

And the going gets tougher. These last few meetings against the T'Wolves, with the exception of that one win since the acquisition of Chandler, they just continually open up a can of whoop ass on the Lakers. Tonight was pretty competitive for the first three quarters. Then the fourth quarter, the Lakers just gassed out and things just went completely out of hand from flagrant fouls to technical fouls to getting beat in the paint. Clearly, there's a lot of problems with this team once the 4th quarter hits.

(+)

Rajon Rondo, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 13 assists, 6-11 shooting. He hasn't missed a beat after being sidelined for a month. When Rondo's on the floor, it takes away a lot of pressure from a lot players on this Lakers roster to be the playmaker and make a play for teammates. Rondo's function is exactly and he's not afraid to shoot too unlike in years past. Offensively, Rondo looked sharp tonight. And the funny thing is, his index finger is not even close to 100%, that's why he had to adjust and take as minimal contact as he can. Overall, he looked real good out there tonight.

Brandon Ingram, 20 points, 8-14 shooting. B.I. recovered from a really slow start this game. At least with Rondo on board, he doesn't have to be pressured to assume point guard duties and set up. Tonight, he was back to being aggressive, making a play for himself, and get to his sweet spots where he can put the ball in the net.

(-)

34 points off turnovers. 32 second chance pts. Thank you Chris Webber for that stat line as it goes to shows that the Lakers just got bullied inside. Ivica Zubac and JaVale McGee obviously cannot hold KAT much longer inside the paint. But, the Timberwolves got a huge spark off Andrew Wiggins as he spent the majority of this game in attack mode. Honestly, Wiggins' biggest problems since he entered the league was consistency and his lack of assertiveness. Tonight, he showed as a capable 2nd option next to KAT. Lakers got outrebounded off the offensive glass 22-9. Not to mention they comitted 7 more turnovers than Minnesota and the Timberwolves dictated the pace on their accord on that one.

Kyle Kuzma, 10 points, 4-12 shooting. Here we go with one of those funk series from Kuz. This was also a problem last year. After putting together a string of high scoring outputs, he just goes on a trail where he doesn't contribute as much as he should. Tonight, nothing from beyond the arc again. Most of his hook shots were too strong and hitting nothing but rim. We definitely to see KuzMania run wild again.

MVP

Rajon Rondo, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 13 assists, 6-11 shooting

Great to have him back tonight. The Laker offense just flowed much better and everybody didn't have to work as much to get their shot as Rondo creates a lot of opportunity for them. Outside of LeBron and Lonzo to form a "Cerberus" of playmakers, Rondo is just as valuable.

Conclusion

The more the Lakers continue to lose, the more I have to quote Jim Mora. "Playoffs? Don't talk about Playoffs! I just hope we win a game." Because right now the Lakers aren't in a hole, they're in a ditch. This team has been in a downward spiral since LeBron went down with the injury. All I hear is "wait until LeBron comes back." I think the Lakers are way too dependent on 'Bron to go MVP-mode and save them from sinking. Players have to step up, find their rhythm, and play like he's not coming back. And I know the young core is capable of doing more than that with the savvy veterans surrounding them. The Lakers get a winnable game coming up against Phoenix. And then after, with the exception of a home game against Philly, it's a long road trip away from home with a tough schedule up. There needs to be a sense of urgency with this team. For some trivia, the Lakers have only won one game this season when I hosts some open threads (X-Mas vs. Warriors). I'll be on sabbattical yet again and usually, that's when they string together some wins. Let's see if I can work the Juju. But honestly, to the Lakers' young core, LeBron is a stop gap player for the franchise, but you guys are the future. Own it now. I'll see you guys later.

01/24: LAKERS vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 2nd Half Open Thread

2nd half open thread of the Lakers-Timberwolves matchup on TNT. As usual, leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game!

Q4

MIN 120 LAL 105

The start of this quarter doomed the Lakers as Minnesota built a 12-point lead. Gauging how this game went, it looked like it was going to go down-to-the-wire. But, the Timberwolve just pulled away and did all the little things to win. Goodness, gracious, even with an integral piece in Rondo back, the Lakers still have issues, especially since they're not a team to come from behind unless LeBron's on the court. More to come in the full recap.

Q3

MIN 84 LAL 82

Strong finish to the quarter after a slow start even though the Lakers still trail. They had a solid start this quarter, scoring five quick points. Then, they just fizzled out and the T'Wolves just controlled the pace for the majority of the game after a quick timeout. Give credit where its due. Neither team wants the other to pile up points and build and insurmountable. This is setting up a tightly contested 4th quarter. The Lakers hung around and got themselves back in the game.

01/24: LAKERS vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 1st Half Open Thread

Welcome to the first half open thread of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves as both teams try to keep afloat in the playoff race in the West. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q2

MIN 58 LAL 61

Not a good defensive sequence to end the half. But, happy the Lakers have the lead at the half. Of course, the big story here is the return of Rajon Rondo. As I said in the first quarter, all is well when you have one of your floor generals back. Players get to do what they do best without taking up the bulk of the playmaking. Rondo looked good, scoring-wise and facilitating-wise. It's like he hasn't missed one month of action. And that's the big plus right now. But, the Timberwolves are hanging around there as their getting some quality minutes out of Jerryd Bayless off the bench. They're a scrappy bunch despite all the drama that has happened with Jimmy Butler and Tom Thibodeau and they're fighting for a playoff spot as well. For the Lakers, while Rondo is a big boost, we need to see more from our main cast off the young core. Kyle Kuzma finally scored in the 2nd quarter, he's struggled as of late and hope he gets the hot hand back. Ingram's been underwhelming. He had a couple of good looks this first half, he just is not able to knock his shots down. There's still plenty more to play. The 2nd half will open up shortly.

Q1

MIN 28 LAL 29

Quite a struggle for B.I. in this quarter with that jump shot. Outside of that, this quarter shows the beauty of having a playmaker like Rondo back. It was just one game that the Lakers didn't have all three of their floor generals. But, it was nowhere near where it was when the Lakers had a pure playmaker. Rondo's return tonight exemplifies the Lakers' getting back to the flow the offense. He looked good this quarter, knocking down a couple of shots and he takes a lot of pressure off of B.I. and Lance as ball handlers. The last stretch was a bitter finish as the T'Wolves benefited on some and one calls to make this a one point game.

Klay Thompson Single-Handedly Burns Lakers

Welcome in to the full recap of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Golden State Warriors as the NBA wraps up their MLK Day slate of games where the Lakers kept it close in the first half, but Klay Thompson's sensational 44-point game leads the Warriors to a 130-111 rout.

You know, the Warriors do show mercy when one of their star players goes off while the others take the night off. I'm going to be honest here, with Golden State at full strength and the Lakers missing their key playermakers, I didn't expect this to be a victory regardless of the outcome. I wouldn't count this as a total annihilation. Klay Thompson had the hot hand tonight and he helped balloon a 10 point lead into a 30-point lead. He had some help from KD and Curry, but they didn't have to do much tonight. I'm going to do just a quick rundown on this since I do have work early tomorrow.

(+)

4th quarter garbage time. Steve Kerr had to take a few timeouts on this one. As I said, the Warriors were merciful enough to pull Klay Thompson out after he torched the Lakers in the third quarter with 10-11 shooting from 3-point range. The Lakers trimmed down the lead to make it look good. Yes, it wasn't close. We got to see extensive looks on Moe Wagner, Svi Mykhailiuk, and Isaac Bonga. We also had an Alex Caruso sighting as he's a two-way player in case the Lakers have injuries. They needed Caruso to fill out the lack of depth at the Point Guard position. Lakers got quality minutes from them. Surprisingly, JaVale McGee finished out the game. He made the most out of it by putting up more points to cap off his 10-point, 9-rebound game.

Michael Beasley, 15 points, 5 rebounds, 7-8 shooting. Once again, the Lakers received solid contribution from Beasley off the bench. People tend to forget he's a scoring machine when he's hot. I liked what I saw as he looked to kept attacking the Warrior defense. He was smart with his shot selection as well. He didn't take ill-advised shots. He just went to his sweet spot near the high post and connect on his mid range.

Ivica Zubac, 18 points, 4 rebounds, 7-8 shooting. Despite the Lakers lacking their 3 primary playmakers, Zubac still did work inside. Just remember, he destroyed the Warriors in the paint the last time they played each other. DeMarcus Cousins' presence is the only difference this time around, but Zubac still found ways to score in the paint. He has been spectacular off the bench the last few games and McGee and Chandler have done a lot of wonders for his development.

(-)

3rd quarter. Klay Thompson's madness this quarter was the headline. There's no question about that. Missed shots doomed the Lakers even more in this quarter. KCP, Ingram, Kuzma, they built a whole lot of bricks and it allowed the Warriors to get set in transition. When you do that against a team with a deadly offense and with a player who's on absolute pandemonium, bad things happen.

Kyle Kuzma, 16 points, 7-18 shooting. But wait, Kuz still made it double figures! The stats are not exactly up to standard on what KuzMania is capable of. Not to mention, he didn't hit a single three as he was 0-5 from beyond the arc.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 4 points, 1-5 shooting. This is why I call KCP: "Kentavious Caldwell-Poop." He'll give out good scoring games, but overall this has been a terrible season for KCP's standard by far.

Free throw shooting. The Kryptonite reared its ugly head again as the Lakers shot 57% from the charity stripe. Not that it would've made a difference, but it would've minimized the margin of defeat.

MVP

Ivica Zubac, 18 points, 4 rebounds, 7-8 shooting 

There you go Zu, here's your MVP. Clearly Rondo was more valuable in the last meeting, but Zubac held his own against Boogie without a pure playmaker setting him up easy looks.






Conclusion

The NBA's Thanos only needed one Infinity Stone to beat a Lakers team who has half of its universe gone. People can say that the Golden State Warriors ruined NBA parity by signing Kevin Durant two offseasons ago and then signing DeMarcus Cousins two offseasons later. What's astonishing about this team is that they know how to keep egos in check with that much star power in hand. Just when you think drama is unfolding to put the franchise in shambles, they just throw it out the door and ball. The Golden State Warriors are the NBA's version of the New England Patriots. They have the perfect system and they have the right culture which many teams are so desperately trying to duplicate. As far as the Lakers, they have a lot more soul-searching to do. Even if LeBron and Rondo return and Lonzo later, this team have their backs against the wall right now. Forget they playoff talk, just win some games and build some consistency. They'll be at it again against the Timberwolves. I will see you guys for that game.

01/21: LAKERS vs. Warriors 2nd Half Open Thread

This is the 2nd half open thread of the Lakers-Warriors matchup as the NBA remembers MLK. As usual, leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q4

GSW 130 LAL 111

Trim the 30-point deficit to just a 19-point deficit, fair enough. Garbage time always helps to minimize the damage a bit and make the scoreboard look good. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3

GSW 110 LAL 80

A merciful end to the quarter. I tell you when Klay Thompson is in a zone, he's in a zone. The guy went 9-9 from beyond the arc this quarter and the Lakers couldn't do anything, despite playing tough defense to deny Klay the ball. His shooting stroke is otherworldly tonight. This quarter was the worst case scenario for the shorthanded Lakers. Yet at the same time, it was expected considering the disparity of talent from both teams tonight. It also doesn't help that the Lakers were asinine on their shots. Too many bricks, which is why they trail by this much.

01/21: Remembering MLK: LAKERS vs. Warriors 1st Half Open Thread

Welcome in to the first half open thread of the Lakers-Warriors matchup as the NBA remembers Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q2

GSW 65 LAL 55

It would've been better if it was still down to single digits. The Warriors did try to put this game out of reach early. But, the Lakers as shorthanded as they are, trail by 10 points at the half. Michael Beasley and Ivica Zubac have provided some scoring punch off the bench with a combined 15 points. They were aggressive inside early. Zubac was unstoppable in the Christmas Day matchup. This time, he runs into a tougher matchup in Boogie. And so far? Nothing has fazed the Zupacalypse. Kyle Kuzma came alive just a little bit at the half. Ingram is running point and so far has been effective. What's keeping this from being a blowout is that only one player out of the Warriors' "Fab Five," Klay Thompson is already way into double figures. Durant just barely with 10 points. The rest haven't hit their groove, Curry especially. The biggest concern is allowing the Warriors' other players to go off. Alfonso McKinnie has hit a pair of threes to help balloon Golden State's lead. Like I said, the Lakers may not have enough firepower to pull this off against the Golden State Western All-Stars. But, if they can keep this game tight throughout the 2nd half without LeBron, Zo, and Rondo on the floor, it would be a moral victory. A win would be great though! The 2nd half will open up shortly.

Q1

GSW 29 LAL 24

Well, the Lakers get a crack at the NBA's Thanos and so far, not bad. The Warriors are more than capable of turning up the scoring, but they got off to a slow start, which benefits the Lakers a bit. It also helps that Boogie Cousins is in foul trouble. Can you believe that? Just his second game in and he's in foul trouble again. It's gonna be key to take out one of the "Infinity Stones" early on here and the Lakers gotta take advantage of Golden State's turnovers. They may lose this game, but it'll be a moral victory if they manage to keep this game close.

Lakers Weekly Roundup (01/20): Drama and Heartbreak

*Some NSFW language*

What a week it was after the Lakers had a tough loss against the lowly Cavaliers. Since that game though, they managed to regroup and string together some competitive games against teams that are far beyond their status. With playoff implication on the line, it was clear that the Lakers needed to play with more urgency, especially since LeBron James' status is still up in the air. Though, Laker Nation received good news that he's slowly progressing from the groin injury. And Rondo should be close to coming back as well. The Lakers are still beyond .500 and have to protect their winning record so far. Let's see how they fare in this Lakers Weekly Roundup.

01/15: vs. Chicago 107-100 [W] (24-21)

HIGHLIGHTS

Luke Walton channeled his inner Owen Hart by shaking up the starting lineup a bit. "Well, enough is enough and it's time for a change!" After a stunning loss against the then-winless Cavaliers, what could possibly go wrong going up against a team that's also on a losing streak? Well for the first half it certainly looked like things would go wrong as the Bulls were neck and neck with the Lakers. Seriously, the Lakers were once against lackadaisical to start right out of the gate. However, things settled down in the 2nd half as the LakeShow assumed control of the game. Zo breaks out of the funk with a triplet of threes to highlight his 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists night. B.I. took over the game, finishing with 16 points. Svi knocked down a pair of threes. Kuzma with a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. All was good from the middle of the third quarter to 1 minute left in the 4th. Yes, the Lakers almost went full melt down in the fourth quarter as Chicago continued to fight on an 11-0 run. Free throws reared its ugly head, but not much. The Lakers closed out a game in the fourth quarter. No LeBron. No Rondo. A shakeup in the starting lineup. You name it. In other news, Hell has officially frozen over. Unfortunately for Laker fans and Staples Center attendees, a team in the Central Division has to ruin your chances of getting free tacos yet again.

01/17: @ Oklahoma City 138-128 (OT) [W] (25-21)

HIGHLIGHTS

I couldn't be anymore proud the way this team performed this game whether they won or lost. That was the gutsy Laker young core I remember that kept their heads in the game last year. OKC had the upper hand early on, but it was the Lakers bench that brought them back from a big deficit to start. Ivica Zubac was a monster inside the paint with 26 points and 12 rebounds. I guess you can he Steven Adams'd Steven Adams this game. Despite the inspired performance, this game could've easily been marred a pair of bullshit calls against the Lakers, such as the out-of-bounds call when a Thunder player clearly touched it last. Or when Westbrook put up a second late after Lonzo fouled him before the act, which the refs still awarded him three free throws to tie the game in regulation. However, the Lakers wouldn't be denied as Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Zubac took the game over in OT to close the Thunder out without LeBron. Without Rondo. Add Westbrook going full Westbrick down the stretch to aid in the Lakers' big victory. And yet Paul George still chooses to go with stat-padding shot chucker. Don't come asking to play in the Purple and Gold when your contract is up and you wind up empty-handed in OKC, Paul.

01/19: @ Houston 134-138 (OT) [L] (25-22)

HIGHLIGHTS

Hot start from the Lakers this game. They've pummeled the Rockets in the first half. James Harden has not shot the ball well. Keep this advantage Lakers.

*2nd half* Once again, the Lakers  couldn't get away from the injury bug as Lonzo Ball had to be carted off with an ankle injury. Down goes another playmaker. The defender clearly tangled with Zo and there should've been a foul call. If that was Harden, he would've gotten the call and two free throws. Luke Walton lets the refs  know it at the cost of being ejected for the rest of the game with assistant coaches Brian Shaw and Jesse Mermuys taking over head coaching duties.

*4th quarter* Okay, the Rockets had a monster 3rd quarter since Zo got out of the game and Coach Walton got ejected. But, things are getting settled as Lance Stephenson hits a couple of clutch three-pointers. Zubac has been unstoppable in the paint and hitting clutch free throws. It's such an anomaly that the Lakers, one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the league, are perfect from their free throws. Just don't foul and-*Eric Gordon hits game-tying three* Well, that's the worst case scenario. Gordon hasn't played a game in awhile and he just pulled a Marcus Paige in the National Championship game two years ago. The Lakers have ran the gauntlet in this tough stretch. They came off a grind-it-out win against the Thunder two days ago. Can they do it again?

*OT* And this is why I don't like it when the Lakers let better teams hang around after regulation. Do you remember those two home games against the Warriors last season? Eric Gordon came alive. James Harden, bad shooting night at all, reminded the league why he's MVP and a magnet for the refs and their whistles. Brandon Ingram though came alive and kept the Lakers within striking distance. Rockets missed some critical free throws. And-*KCP airballs three* How the hell did you not give the ball to Ingram in that situation? I was mad, but I won't overreact. KCP had a great look for the go-ahead three. He just didn't have his feet and legs balanced enough.  If he makes it, he makes it. If he doesn't, well he gets crucified. But still, that was the most questionable possession that game. Lakers have another chance though. *Kuz loses the ball out of bounds* And he had B.I. wide open inside the key for a game-tying dunk. We can blame Kuz's butter fingers, but the Rockets had their hands on the ball to disrupt the inbounds play and Kuz had on-ball pressure all over him. You can't completely blame him for that. Clearly, I have a dissenting opinion cause I don't know, I actually saw the game? Seriously, everybody's blaming everyone and calling for some trades and some heads after this.

The Lakers played well enough this game. The number one rule is that you don't let a good team hang around beyond regulation. They will burn you since they have enough firepower and talent to muster a win if extra time is allocated. That's why I mentioned the home games against the Warriors last year. Lakers had a chance to put them away, but the Warriors just had too much firepower to pull away in OT. Speaking of the Warriors, they are in town tomorrow night as the NBA's Thanos arrives in Wakanda (Staples Center) with all Infinity Stones in tact and there's no Thor (LeBron), Rocket Racoon (Rondo), and Groot (Zo) to come in and provide the reinforcements. And open thread is back for tomorrow night!