Losers of three straight, this time to the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Lakers have additionally precipitated NBA legend and Contained in the NBA analyst Charles Barkley to go 0-6 on his parlays. In the meantime, the Chuckster’s parlays are the least of the Purple and Gold’s issues as they’ve repeated the identical script within the Lakers’ blowout loss to the Nuggets. Anyway, this is Charles Barkley calling LeBron James a “bum” for his busted parlay throughout their postgame protection of the Lakers and Suns.
One other Lakers collapse
One thing have to be within the water within the Lakers’ locker room since this Suns loss is the second straight time they’ve come out flat and listless after halftime.
In any other case, what’s Redick telling the Lakers squad through the break for them to cough up 37 and 36 factors within the third quarter to playoff contenders just like the Nuggets and Suns?
Furthermore, this downside appears past roster development, because it considerations primarily defensive effort and focus. The very best defenders within the league will nonetheless hand over 40 factors in 12 minutes if they do not keep disciplined and guard their opponents.
Moreover, the Lakers might survive a 40-point quarter from their opponents if they might additionally rating with them, however of their two newest losses they’ve solely scored 15 and 18 factors within the third quarter, respectively.
In opposition to the Suns, LeBron James had 18 factors and ten boards, seven factors in need of getting Charles Barkley’s over of 25, however he wants to attain greater than that if the Lakers need to overcome their defensive lapses.
After LeBron went dunk for dunk with Kevin Durant within the second quarter, followers may need thought they had been in for a barn-burner, however the Lakers let go of the rope for some motive.
In the meantime, Durant and Bradley Beal returned to the Suns’ lineup, giving the crew sufficient of an offensive spark to go 17-42 from three and switch the ball over solely 9 instances.
This isn’t a critical crew
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Talking of 17, it solely took 17 video games for Redick to appreciate his defensive schemes did not work, and that they had been profitable largely due to their high-octane offense, ranked fourth in offensive ranking throughout the league.
However, they’re twenty seventh within the NBA in defensive ranking.
Asking Anthony Davis to be the perfect participant on each offense and protection hasn’t labored since Darvin Ham coached them, however apart from ready for Jarred Vanderbilt to come back again from damage, they need to discover a scheme to suit a roster with no perimeter defenders and rebounders.
Such is the story of the Lakers because the misbegotten commerce for Russell Westbrook in 2022: an infuriatingly inconsistent squad unable to place all of it collectively regardless of having two of the perfect gamers in your entire league.