On Tuesday, Deandre Ayton was overheard singing a tune as he left the Lakers’ locker room.
“Oh, child, things will be easier.”
Things have indeed taken a turn for the worse for the Lakers.
They faced a tough 123-87 defeat against the Thunder, a stark contrast to the promising trajectory they’d been on. Just last week, they were riding high with a 16-2 record, showing potential championship form. But then, injuries sidelined key players Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for the rest of the regular season, and maybe even the opening round of playoffs.
What was the atmosphere like for this home game following such shocking news?
Instead of hearing from Doncic about his MVP aspiration, young players Kobe Bufkin and Adu Tierro were making postgame comments about their G League performances.
Previously, the Lakers fielded a lineup brimming with talent; now, they could only manage one regular starter, Ayton.
And rather than expressing confidence, JJ Redick seemed desperate for any player to step up and take responsibility.
“We’ve got to find nine guys who are going to give it their all,” Redick urged.
But on that night, the coach didn’t see that effort reflected in his team.
There was a moment of tension between Redick and Jared Vanderbilt after he was taken out just 16 seconds into the second quarter. Reflecting on it later, Redick mentioned it was due to a “confluence of things.”
Just two minutes into the game, Redick substituted out Rui Hachimura as he felt a timeout was necessary because “Louie didn’t do his job.”
He wasn’t shy about critiquing Ayton, who seemingly struggled with just three points and three rebounds in almost 23 minutes of play. “We’ve designed numerous plays for him,” Redick noted, “but he had difficulty catching the ball.”
This is quite disappointing for a team that had finally found its rhythm.
In March, the Lakers were celebrated—they showcased superb teamwork, enjoying each other’s company off the court and performing at their best. Now, things have unraveled.
Doncic’s MVP aspirations have taken a hit, while Reaves might miss the chance to show his worth in the playoffs due to his injury. At 41, James must try to carry the team through the first round, likely without ample support.
The Lakers’ momentum has been severely halted.
James missed the recent game, nursing an issue with his left foot. Watching from the sidelines, he donned a striped sweater while Reaves sported Lakers gear. Meanwhile, Doncic was over 5,000 miles away in Spain, recovering from his own injury.
Other absences included Marcus Smart and Jackson Hayes, adding to the team’s woes.
This matchup was expected to be one of the highlights of the season.
Instead, the reigning champs, the Thunder, faced a depleted Lakers squad. The sold-out audience seemed to have paid premium prices to watch Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominate.
What a frustrating shift for the Lakers.
What was laid out to be a showdown between MVP candidates instead resembled a funeral for a team struggling over the last month.
The absence of star players was palpable; it was the second time in a week they lost to the Thunder by a staggering margin. It was disheartening to witness.
Unfortunately, it appears things won’t improve in the near future.
