Game 31: Los Angeles Lakers (11-19) @ Charlotte Hornets (15-13) - 4:00 PM PST

[AcecardZ]

This team should continue to improve as they get more familiar with Luke's system and young players get more experience. If the team can find a way to stay reasonably healthy tanking is going to be tough.

How come Moz played so few minutes today?

[Chuck Everett]

Lakers only 3 back in the loss column from the 8th seed. Season is not over.

[tugs]

Someone explain why JC wasn't getting some shots when they needed it most?!

And wtf with the matador rebounding?!

[Slava]

We cannot manage to lose games even after shooting 49% from the field and 48.5% from 3.

[stan francisco]

If you don't rebound the ball, how can you expect to have possession of it? If the other team gets most of the rebounds, they win. I can't stand poor rebounding because it shows a lesser will to win than the other team — hunger, effort, balls. Wimps.

Clarkson might have been told to stop impersonating Monta Ellis style every time he touches the ball, which would be good if everyone that ran into him told him.

I still stick to my 35+ win prediction. They will turn it around.

I hope for a trade involving Clarkson and Deng happening at the TD. I'm done hoping that he will suddenly start passing and playing D. Deng is perhaps a great vet presence but his on-court contribution has mostly been pathetic.

[tugs]

Here's one gripe I have though. When JC starts hitting shots, people complain he's not passing. He's making shots, why pass up the chance now?

[Crooked-I]

Lakers only 3 back in the loss column from the 8th seed. Season is not over.

Yeah season is far from over. Portland, Denver, Lakers, Kings, Pels, Wolves, Suns, Mavs aren't really that far apart record wise. It's going to be interesting which teams give up and start tanking tho.

[BEazy]

With a deep draft this year, I think a lot of teams are going to give up early.

For me personally, I want us to either make the playoffs and give the 76ers a **** pick, or tank the season and keep our pick. No middle of the pack stuff benefiting 76ers. They don't need another lottery pick rotting on their bench.

[Kilroy]

Here's one gripe I have though. When JC starts hitting shots, people complain he's not passing. He's making shots, why pass up the chance now?

I think there's a real vibe around Lakers fans where they only want certain players making shots... JC gets crap for shooting, even when he's making shots, Randle gets crap for driving and shooting in traffic even on a night he's shooting over 70%, Mozgov and Deng should never touch the ball...Ever...
People seem to want Ingram, Russell and Nance to do all of the scoring on this team right now... Even though none of them have shown they can consistently do that.
Big picture is this is a team without set stars right now... It's a young team... And 'Shooters' as a bunch are streaky... So we are going to have to rely on the whole team to share the load as out young guys go through dry spells.
So I think it's time for us fans to stand down a little on the criticism of these guys.

That said, the thing with JC is that he's not a jump shooter. He needs to create with the ball in his hands, so he isn't a great assist partner and he also tends to eat up clock as he works to get his shot. It looks like he completely tunes out his team when he gets the ball at times.

[Ckay]

Disgusting behavior by Randle and Russell
https://streamable.com/wakgh

[Danny Darko]

Here's one gripe I have though. When JC starts hitting shots, people complain he's not passing. He's making shots, why pass up the chance now?

I think there's a real vibe around Lakers fans where they only want certain players making shots... JC gets crap for shooting, even when he's making shots, Randle gets crap for driving and shooting in traffic even on a night he's shooting over 70%, Mozgov and Deng should never touch the ball...Ever...
People seem to want Ingram, Russell and Nance to do all of the scoring on this team right now... Even though none of them have shown they can consistently do that.
Big picture is this is a team without set stars right now... It's a young team... And 'Shooters' as a bunch are streaky... So we are going to have to rely on the whole team to share the load as out young guys go through dry spells.
So I think it's time for us fans to stand down a little on the criticism of these guys.

That said, the thing with JC is that he's not a jump shooter. He needs to create with the ball in his hands, so he isn't a great assist partner and he also tends to eat up clock as he works to get his shot. It looks like he completely tunes out his team when he gets the ball at times.

I personally want the guys I don't like making tons of shots for trade value.

I also am fed up with Clarkson, but then again, last year I was fed up with Lou.

I want this team to win with team ball and have a bunch of guys get 15 points with a few guys who are capable of big nights. I'm happy as long as their is ball movement and people basically hit shots they should.

Last night I was hoping Jordan would score 60

[Edrees]

This was the most devastating loss of the season for me. We should have won this game and badly needed a win.

I was a strong proponent of tanking the last 2 years but I am strongly against it this year. The team is talented enough to make the playoffs. There's no reason not to fight for it , as the attempt of doing it and almost making it will give us a framework for next year, and show Free Agents this team has a foundation to join if they want to win.