Game 15: Los Angeles Lakers (8-6) @ Orlando Magic (7-8) - LOSS - 8-7

[Spens1]

Kuzma needs to better improve or he's gone. He's actually playing to his draft place now because he was trash.

Josh Hart is the only one i'd seriously say has actually stepped up.

[bb22]

The young guys need to learn how to play with intensity and focus when lebron isn’t going all out. He’s gonna take the passenger seat (to his standards) in a lot of these types of games... it’s just how he paces himself over the course of the season. No excuse to lose this one and play such horrible D.

[Spanish_Laker]

Hopefully a trade is looming, our young core is overrated Af

[-Spyda-]

Bad lose

[BasketballFan7]

Kuzma needs to better improve or he's gone. He's actually playing to his draft place now because he was trash.

Josh Hart is the only one i'd seriously say has actually stepped up.

Hart's defense on quick players is atrocious. I like his game, but he could do to lose some mass.

[Landsberger]

I question why Luke didn’t put Bron and McGee or Chandler in the game when we closed to within 10 with over 4 minutes left. We are trying to be a playoff team and you have to try and win every game... this isn’t a throw away year again. This game was winnable at that point if we had put our best guys on the court again. I’m really starting to wonder if he has anything other than what he borrowed from Kerr in the tank. Constant rotation changes. Isolation for Ingram and Bron while everyone else watches and a complete failure to install a defensive scheme that the players can execute.

[Laker_Kid]

Hopefully a trade is looming, our young core is overrated Af

if im the fo. i’d be thinking that we need to shake things up at the deadline. cant imagine keeping this team intact as is the whole season.

[snaquille oatmeal]

Winter is here! There is only one game that matters and it’s with the Orlando Magic. Let’s trade everyone because our entire team is trash!

[iamworthy]

I dont care how good lonzo's defense is theres no way he can take only 5 shots.

His defense wasn't good today and he air balled a 12 footer by 1 foot. Not sure he should be shooting more than 5 times if he's having trouble hitting the rim in the paint.

Hmmm, maybe you're right

[iamworthy]

I assume this is the play you're talking about

https://streamable.com/69b5c

[Magic_Johnny12]

Loss to one of the worse teams in the NBA. Good job Lakers....smh...

By definition and record that would make yah also one of the worst teams in the NBA.

[Beethoven]

Come on let's win tonite's game

[Kilroy]

I assume this is the play you're talking about

https://streamable.com/69b5c

As bad as the miss looked... It happens to everyone at some point. (Happening a little too much to Ball, but still)

What's worse to me was on the other end LeBron didn't switch again, let his man run free across the paint... Terrible, but still worse...
Chandler just stands there and doesn't box anyone out... The guy that should have been LeBrons cover, gets behind Chandler, Ty stands their watching him some NBA, and that guy gets an easy, open putback jam...

That's the kind of crap that's been killing us all season. LeBron just basically refuses to switch and his guy ends up scoring easily.

The main difference between last night and the game when LeBron passed Wilt was in that game, LeBron was super active on the Defensive end... He's pretty much only done that once this season.

Not saying it's all Lebron's fault, but what I am saying is that with the way this team is structured... Or how it's flawed... It's not going to be able to cover for LeBron when he doesn't want to play D... Our players mostly aren't natural Defenders other than Ball, McGee and Chandler... Ingram's willing and has figured out how to use his length on smaller guys, but he's not really a natural, instinctive, defender...

So any time LeBron takes a play off on D, we're super exposed.

This team is 'Waiting for Godot" in sneakers... But until that magical 'other' gets here, there are going to be nights like this when we're more hole than whole...

[Landsberger]

I assume this is the play you're talking about

https://streamable.com/69b5c

Yes.... that's it. Look at what he does as a defender right after as well. First instinct is to try and steal the ball.... hands and arms down and then matadors the guy and lets him create an unbalanced transition possession... then runs up behind the ball carrier for another half hearted steal attempt then just quits and lets up the 3 point attempt.

We can discuss how LeBron defends all day but this is a prime example of what I see with Ball. He's defending as if he's the only guy on the court and at that he's got poor fundamentals. His overall effort was not what you want from a guy who needs to improve.

[Ball so hard]

I dont care how good lonzo's defense is theres no way he can take only 5 shots.

His defense wasn't good today and he air balled a 12 footer by 1 foot. Not sure he should be shooting more than 5 times if he's having trouble hitting the rim in the paint.

Cracked up when I saw this

Could not have provided a better response.

[Ball so hard]

I assume this is the play you're talking about

https://streamable.com/69b5c

As bad as the miss looked... It happens to everyone at some point. (Happening a little too much to Ball, but still)

What's worse to me was on the other end LeBron didn't switch again, let his man run free across the paint... Terrible, but still worse...
Chandler just stands there and doesn't box anyone out... The guy that should have been LeBrons cover, gets behind Chandler, Ty stands their watching him some NBA, and that guy gets an easy, open putback jam...

That's the kind of crap that's been killing us all season. LeBron just basically refuses to switch and his guy ends up scoring easily.

The main difference between last night and the game when LeBron passed Wilt was in that game, LeBron was super active on the Defensive end... He's pretty much only done that once this season.

Not saying it's all Lebron's fault, but what I am saying is that with the way this team is structured... Or how it's flawed... It's not going to be able to cover for LeBron when he doesn't want to play D... Our players mostly aren't natural Defenders other than Ball, McGee and Chandler... Ingram's willing and has figured out how to use his length on smaller guys, but he's not really a natural, instinctive, defender...

So any time LeBron takes a play off on D, we're super exposed.

This team is 'Waiting for Godot" in sneakers... But until that magical 'other' gets here, there are going to be nights like this when we're more hole than whole...

Reminiscent of Kobe's play late in his career. Unfortunately, this is how it's likely going to be for the rest of Lebron's tenure. It's up to coaching staff to develop schemes to help mitigate Lebron's putrid defense. Magic and Rob also must do a better job of putting together better defensive minded players next to Lebron... hence why I have a much stronger preference for Kawhi to Durant.