LOS ANGELES – In a dismissive tone, Russell Westbrook declined to element a pricey turnover and missed 3-pointer that performed a key issue within the Lakers’ 107-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday at Staples Center.
“Don’t ask me a question you know the answers to,” Westbrook stated. “You’ve seen it. Just watch the game and see what happens. I lost the ball. I missed a 3. Nothing to it.”
In a quiet tone, Anthony Davis expressed confidence in his sprained proper thumb though it remained wrapped in tape.
“It’s fine,” Davis stated.
But the Lakers absolutely will not be.
For the second time prior to now week, the Lakers (5-4) squandered a double-digit result in a rebuilding Thunder crew (2-6) that has compiled wins this season solely as a result of they confronted the Lakers.
Perhaps the Lakers wouldn’t have squandered a 19-point lead towards the Thunder on Thursday had LeBron James not suffered an stomach pressure towards the top of Tuesday’s win in Houston. Maybe the Lakers wouldn’t have wasted a 26-point cushion final week in Oklahoma had James not missed a second consecutive sport due to a sprained proper ankle.
Yet, that completely misses the purpose. The Lakers shouldn’t want James to babysit a veteran-laden crew of All-Stars to make sure they don’t squander a double-digit result in a crew destined for the NBA draft lottery.
Game Recap: Thunder 107, Lakers 104
“He’s a big key to our team, but we still got to play,” Davis stated. “We still have to find ways to win basketball games. We can’t control him playing or not. But what we can control is go out there and win basketball games with the guys that we have. We have enough pieces to still win basketball games, even though he brings a huge part to both ends of the floor with what we do.”
Yes, the Lakers ought to have sufficient items to win video games.
Westbrook (27 factors, six rebounds, 5 assists) can nonetheless log triple-doubles. Davis (29 factors, 18 rebounds, two blocks) can nonetheless dominate inside. Carmelo Anthony (21) can nonetheless rating virtually anytime he desires to, even in a bench function. Nonetheless, the Lakers even have some severe flaws.
They have 12 new gamers which have but to grow to be accustomed towards enjoying with one another with and with out James. They have nursed accidents to key wings all season (Trevor Ariza, Talen-Horton Tucker) and simply built-in one towards Oklahoma City (Wayne Ellington). The Lakers have a studying curve on the defensive schemes coach Frank Vogel has overseen, a staple that ensured an NBA title run solely two years in the past. The Lakers barely collected a win towards one other rebuilding crew with out James (San Antonio). Even when James was wholesome, the Lakers barely collected two wins towards one other rebuilding crew (Houston).
“We can’t fold. We’re okay. We’re all right,” Anthony stated. “It hurts to lose to the same team twice within a week within the same fashion. That is something we have to take upon ourselves and hold each other accountable as players and teammates. But other than that, our mode is the same. We know it’s a long journey and long year. But games we’re supposed to win along that way, we should win.”
If the Lakers can’t beat a rebuilding crew twice with out James, how can they ever take in any absence he has all through the season? With James anticipated to overlook at the least yet another week together with his newest harm, how can the Lakers count on to win in Portland on Saturday adopted by a homestand that features playoff-caliber groups in Charlotte, Miami and Chicago?
The Lakers blow a 19-point lead at residence and fall to the Thunder.
In concept, the Lakers’ chemistry will enhance all through the season as they play extra video games, shed their studying curve and discard injured gamers from the coach’s room. Just like after they received an NBA title (2020) and skilled a first-round flameout (2021), the Lakers’ championship fortunes will principally hinge on James’ well being. Thankfully for the Lakers, they don’t count on James’ harm to be severe.
“Anytime LeBron is out and is going to miss some time, there’s obviously a concern,” Vogel stated. “But hopefully this is something that is minimal.”
But even when the Lakers keep James’ newest harm has no correlation to his injured left groin in 2017-18 and his excessive proper ankle sprain (2020-21), the Lakers plan to stay cautious with James’ 36-year-old physique.
Therefore, it appears inevitable the Lakers must discover ways to navigate elements of the common season with out James. Small pattern measurement apart, the Lakers have already confirmed warning indicators that their roster development may go away them ailing outfitted to deal with that problem.
The Lakers dealt an rising younger participant (Kyle Kuzma), a good massive man (Montrezl Harrell), a reliable shooter and defender (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) and a No. 22 choose to the Washington Wizards as a result of they believed in Westbrook’s worth in moments such because the Lakers are dealing with.
“One of the reasons we traded for Russell is being able to stretches where we don’t have LeBron or AD better than we did last year,” Vogel stated.
Yet, one of many causes the Lakers have misplaced twice towards Oklahoma City factors to Westbrook’s incapacity to get out of his personal approach.
Last week, Westbrook dedicated 10 turnovers and have become an emotional wreck each because the Lakers squandered a double-digit lead and when Thunder ahead Darius Bazley threw down a dunk within the last seasons. Westbrook had proven some incremental progress with lowering his turnovers, whereas sustaining his aggressiveness. But on Thursday, he dedicated three pricey errors.
With 21 seconds left, Westbrook sprinted on a fastbreak solely to lose management of the ball as he drove to the basket. On the following play, Westbrook helped too far out and left Lu Dort open for an uncontested dunk. And then on the ultimate possession, Westbrook pulled up for a contested 3-pointer that prompted Vogel to confess “we wanted a better shot than that.” Had Westbrook’s spacing been higher, maybe Anthony would’ve been open for a 3 as Vogel had hoped.
“Just got to figure it out. As simple as that,” Westbrook stated. “You can’t really do much about it other than figure it out and figure out the best way to play for the team and figure the best way to be effective.”
Granted, the Lakers’ woes don’t fall completely on Westbrook. DeAndre Jordan has supplied little rim safety. Anthony’s productive offense has grow to be offset together with his subpar protection. The Lakers missed 9 consecutive pictures, together with 4 from reserve Rajon Rondo, throughout a five-minute stretch with out Davis and Westbrook on the ground. Despite Davis’ insistence on feeling high-quality, one can’t assist however surprise if his injured thumb negatively affected each his second-half play and his availability for Saturday’s sport in Portland.
But Anthony and Davis have appeared to thrive on offense principally due to their expertise versus any playmaking Westbrook has supplied. For all of the comprehensible studying curves Westbrook has confronted with enjoying alongside James, Westbrook has had the chance to slip again right into a extra comfy function with out him.
“We got to continue to learn what we’re asking him to do within our system,” Vogel stated. “One of those things is keeping those turnovers down, which he’s done a better job of. We have to continue to have him touch the paint and create as much as possible.”
If solely Westbrook may have executed that with extra precision twice prior to now week towards Oklahoma City. Instead, they’re left with questions on when and if Westbrook will grow to be the participant they envisioned and can assist them notably anytime James has to take a seat on the bench.
