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Suns forward Kevin Durant shoots over Lakers guard Austin Reaves and forward Anthony Davis on Tuesday in Phoenix. (Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)
The idea, JJ Redick said before the game, would be for the Lakers to get back to the plan he set in place when he became coach. That plan, to take the long view and favor the process over the results, helped the team win 10 of its first 14 games.
“We’re all competitive. I’m competitive. We have to be about the process and doing things the right way and building that consistency,” he said Tuesday night. “I believe that if our group does that, we’ll have good results and results we can live with.”
But after two days of hammering home a need to be physical, two days after they were badly beaten by a rival in a third quarter in which they “stopped playing” in their own coach’s assessment, the Lakers again failed to be felt on the defensive end.
Facing a potent team in Phoenix, one that they are fighting both in the West and in their NBA Cup group, the Lakers again were outclassed in the second half, losing 127-100 to the Suns at Footprint Center.
They’ve lost three straight games.
Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 25 points and 15 rebounds while LeBron James had 18 points and 10 assists, though he had five turnovers. D’Angelo Russell scored 16 off the bench, his first game in double figures since Nov. 15.
The Lakers play their final group game in the NBA Cup on Friday at home against Oklahoma City, needing a win (and likely a loss by the Suns to the San Antonio Spurs) to have a chance at the knockout stages because of point-differential tiebreakers.
“As you’re competing, it’s nearly impossible to think about the big picture when you’re getting your ass kicked,” guard Austin Reaves said. “ But when it’s all over, you sit down, you think about it, and we’re 10-7 right now. I believe we’re still in a good spot. … But in the moment, it sucks because who wants to even think about the big picture in the moment? You’re thinking about trying to win a game.”
Just as in their previous loss against Denver, the Lakers were raced off the floor, their body…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/another-lackluster-effort-lakers-lose-053937476.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-11-27 05:39:00
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