LOS ANGELES — This is a troubling loss for the defending champion Milwaukee BucksOn Tuesday night, there was an uncomfortable admission in the Los Angeles Lakers‘Locker room: With Thursday’s deadline rapidly approaching, it is imperative that the team gets back on track.
Sources said that the suspicion had been building for weeks and even months for a Lakers team with a title goal, ESPN sources claimed. Sources said that the clearness of the acknowledgement came down to timing.
L.A. trailed Bucks by as much as 30 points when two-time MVP Giannis AntetokounmpoThe team went 11-for-11 in the field to achieve a dominant 44 point, 14-rebound and eight-assist night.
“It tells you that we aren’t on their level.” LeBron JamesWhen asked if the loss had any bearing on where the Lakers were, he replied flatly. “It’s possible I could have said that before the game.”
James did not shy away from the large gap between L.A. (35-21), and Milwaukee (21-21) when James was asked about Monday night’s practice.
“Obviously, you can always use games to determine where you are at any given moment. He said that we know exactly where we are right now: sitting at a couple of games, with fewer than.500.” “Haven’t been able to play the basketball that we would like to.”
L.A. didn’t play at the same level for the brief time it did, however, that was in the fourth-quarter. Russell WestbrookOn the bench.
Frank Vogel, Lakers coach, pulled Westbrook down the stretch for the third consecutive game. Two minutes, 34 seconds remained in the third period against the Bucks. Westbrook was then subbed out and didn’t return to the game.
L.A. outscored Milwaukee 38-28 from that point and for a brief time afterward. Malik MonkCut the lead to 10 by dunking with 5 minutes and 5 seconds remaining in the fourth.
With 27.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, the Lakers waved the white towels. They were down by 15 points. Vogel then subbed James out. Anthony Davis.
While James and Davis were seated next to each other on the Lakers’ bench after Bucks’ shot clock violations, Westbrook smiled and greeted L.A.’s captains by tapping their backs and patting their shoulders, even though the pair made very little eye contact.
James was asked about the exchange.
“Listen, AD! Russ needs my help. AD wants me to help him, Russ would like to help us,” James explained. “Obviously Russ doesn’t feel like he had the opportunity lately or hasn’t been able to help us as much as we would like. We haven’t done a good job of helping him.”
Westbrook, who accepted Vogel’s decision to not play him in overtime against the New York KnicksThe Lakers won the game so they didn’t sing the same song on Tuesday.
“I shouldn’t have to hit any benchmark to be honest,” Westbrook stated when he was asked what he should do during a game in order to get playing time in crunch. “I have put in a lot and I’ve earned a lot respect in this game. I don’t need to reach a benchmark, or I shouldn’t. “I’ve earned the right to be in the closing lineups.”
When Westbrook was asked what the Lakers are going through this season, he replied that “No. One thing to fix is “creating consistency in our team,” which we don’t have right now.
Tuesday’s game was the 27th consecutive time that the Lakers used a different starting line-up in their 55th NBA season. It was only the 18th occasion that Westbrook, Davis and James all played together.
Sources told ESPN that L.A. is currently 10-8 in these games. However, players are not considering standing pat and hoping for a better winning percentage to end the season strong.
The trade market is still open to L.A. with the pieces that it has. It will be interesting to see what L.A. does. Except for the Lakers’ three big players, all the roster players are signed to minimum deals other than Talen Horton-TuckerIn the first year, a 3-year, $30.3 Million deal was signed. Kendrick Nunn(In the first year of a 2-year, $10.3 Million deal with a player choice for the second).
James assisted with L.A.’s offseason roster construction, consulting with Rob Pelinka, Lakers vice-president of basketball operations, regarding everything, including the Westbrook trade with The Lakers. Washington WizardsESPN has received information from sources that free agency signings are possible. Sources tell ESPN that Pelinka and James will continue to collaborate in order to help the Lakers make a deep run for this season.
Although the Lakers are under pressure, that doesn’t mean they can’t offer something appealing.
James stated that there is still a lot more basketball to play before he finished his joint news conference. He left the arena along with Davis, who he had partnered with 16 months ago to win a championship. There’s still a chance for us to make an impact on this season. But it’s going be hard. It’s going take a lot. It’s worth noting if it isn’t worth the effort.”
Davis added: “I don’t believe we’ve given up on it. I know that we haven’t. I don’t believe that we have — I know it. Bron also said that we still have plenty of basketball. It’s possible to turn this around, but it will take a lot more work. We will need to work together as a team to achieve this. It’s important that we all buy in. It’s up to us all to play for one another. Play hard. Do your best. Try to change it before it gets really bad.”