The Lakers between “inconstant” and “terrible”

The time when the Lakers were among the leading pack in the West, after a month of competition, seems a long way off. The atmosphere was more than gloomy in the Californian ranks after a new setback, or rather a slap, received Monday at the Wolves (109-80). The Lakers did not exist on both ends of the court and conceded their third loss of more than 25 points in ten days, after those against the Nuggets and the Suns. As much as the results, the content of the matches is enough to tense up the Lakers.

As ESPN notesyou had to go back to January 2017 to see the Angelinos score so few points in a game and a slap received by the Mavericks (122-73) during the first season after the retirement of Kobe Bryant.

“ I didn't see us play like we did at the start of the season » lamented JJ Redick. “ I have to spend my day tomorrow with my staff trying to figure out how to get back to this. It's funny because in the first half against Phoenix we achieved it. In the first half against Denver, we achieved it. Against Orlando, one of the best defenses in the league, we finished with an Offensive Rating of 120. It's right there. I told the guys and you, the media, that the second half against the Nuggets was an aberration. It seems more and more that it wasn't one of them. »

After the absent defense, the attack at bay

Very annoyed, the Lakers technician pointed out the lack of circulation of his team, both of the ball and of the players themselves. Against a serious defense like that of the Wolves during this match, this results in 20 lost balls and an awful 6/31 at 3-points. For a team that constantly calls itself a “process” team, this bad series sees Los Angeles sinking into its faults rather than correcting them over the course of the meetings.

“ We're just not good offensively right now. » did not hide LeBron James. “ We've spent so much time trying to fix our defense lately that it's taken its toll on our offense, which has taken a back seat. It’s a whole, not just one aspect of our offense. » « There is a lot of randomness in our attack » insisted Anthony Daviseven more critical. “ Over the last six or seven games, we are the worst attack in the league. We are really bad on offense, and that hurts. »

A quarter into the regular season, there is no time for panic. But the questioning is on the agenda for Lakers judged “ fickle » by their coach.

“ I agree with JJ » added Anthony Davis. “ Sometimes we look like a team that can contend with anyone, and sometimes we look like a terrible team that won't do anything this season. We've been phenomenal in some games, and in others like tonight, we've been disgusting. We just have to understand what team we want to be for the rest of the season. »

Playing all 82 games, wishful thinking for LeBron?

Certainly not the one where, like this Monday in Minnesota, nothing worked in particular for the star duo Davis – James, at 22 points and 8/30 shooting for eight lost balls.

LeBron James, in particular, is going through a serious crisis of skill, with 19 consecutive missed 3-point shots, his worst series in almost 21 years and his rookie season (24 missed between December 26, 2003 and January 13, 2004). reports ESPN! “ It's a question of rhythm, I feel off during the last three-four matches » he explained.

Having just played his 1,800th career game on Monday, the best scorer in history could finally return to his goal of taking part in each of the 82 games of the season.

“ I'm not sure it's in his and our best interest to do this, but if he feels good then he should play » estimated JJ Redick. “ But we obviously want to manage this as best we can. “LeBron James is moving forward as a solution to his bad patch” work, simply work, that's all“. And there is before facing another struggling team, the Heat, on Wednesday.