Game 22: Los Angeles Lakers (8-13) @ Denver Nuggets (12-9) - 9:00 PM ET - LOSS - 8-14

[Ball so hard]

Ball and Ingram really just gave up there at the end. The game couldn't get over fast enough it seemed for them.

10 turnovers between them and Ingram was -26 tonight.

Yeah, that was embarrassing... Ball basically walking off the court with 12 sec left and Ingram just standing there.

JC and Randle knew what to do, but everyone else was on the plane home already...

Ball and Ingram don't have any sort of chemistry together, and they know it. When Ball is "leading" the offense, he never gets Ingram involved even though he's always in a good position to score. On the other hand, when Ingram is the priority, Ball just sulks in the corner and becomes a complete non-factor on offense, almost like he refuses to participate in the offense. In both cases, we're playing 4 v 5.

I'm not sure there's a single lineup we can put out there with Ball that makes us a clear positive on offense. I do know that when you put Ingram out there without Ball on the court, the Lakers become very capable of scoring.

I think you're overthinking things here. It's pretty clear to me why Ball and Ingram don't have chemistry. At this point in time, Ingram is a one trick pony (he's simply a pound and drive guy); he's what some would call a blackhole. Ingram being an unwilling shooter, not being a cutter are other issues. I can't count how many times i've see Ingram receive the ball wide open, but chooses to dribble and drive to the paint. It seems we'll have to choose whom to build the team around at some point. Unless one of them radically changes their game, they won't fit well together. A pass first pg (who can't shoot) with an iso driver is simply incompatible.

[Slava]

Disappointed Julius didn't bodycheck Murray's punk ass into the scorer's table for that stunt.

[iamworthy]

Read on Twitter

[dockingsched]

didn’t watch the game, loved Randle’s reaction.

[dub81]

Lakers are young. These games are going to happen.

[Danny Darko]

Last season all over again repeated. We will soon be 10-25...After having a great game vs the defending champs I expected to lose miserably the next game and that's what happened. Luke isn't NBA ready yet.

Last season we were tanking and Luke would pull guys intentionally. This year... ??!!

This team has to stay semi competitive and have a strong late season showing to draw FA's unless George is just that into coming home

If not we'll probably gut the team of all the young talent and depth to make sure multiple jackass FAs who want to play together can. Freaking banana boat teams suck to get behind.

[ROballer]

Disappointed Julius didn't bodycheck Murray's punk ass into the scorer's table for that stunt.

Watched the 30 for 30 piece on the Lakers/Celtics rivalry this weekend. I'm sooo bummed about living in this present age, with the pussified rules and everything.

You did that in the 80's, your ass was gonna get floored in 2 secs, and you'd get a foul call and nothing more. Randle takes a harder swing at this hands and he gets a T? Come the **** on, the guy deserved to be elbowed in the face at the very least.

[RingsDontLie]

Enough... Russell would be worse for this team than Deng right now... Because at least Deng could actually play!
At the rate he's going with his glass knees and commitment issues, I'll be shocked if D'Angelo Russell is still in the league in 5 years.

Just as I'll be shocked of the Lakers signing a good free agent.

Probably should of acquired a veteran PG, but I wonder if Josh Hart can play the point. He's been very impressive...and impressive finisher, seems to shoot the ball well. I'm sure Magic and Pelinka wouldn't like this, but Ball needs to take a step back until he learns to find consistency. And consistency and offense he can develop off the bench, going against the weaker competition. Ingram came off the bench early on, I don't understand why Ball can't come off the bench. Then maybe bump him back to starter after the all star break.

[TJM217]

Yeah, that was embarrassing... Ball basically walking off the court with 12 sec left and Ingram just standing there.

JC and Randle knew what to do, but everyone else was on the plane home already...

Ball and Ingram don't have any sort of chemistry together, and they know it. When Ball is "leading" the offense, he never gets Ingram involved even though he's always in a good position to score. On the other hand, when Ingram is the priority, Ball just sulks in the corner and becomes a complete non-factor on offense, almost like he refuses to participate in the offense. In both cases, we're playing 4 v 5.

I'm not sure there's a single lineup we can put out there with Ball that makes us a clear positive on offense. I do know that when you put Ingram out there without Ball on the court, the Lakers become very capable of scoring.

I think you're overthinking things here. It's pretty clear to me why Ball and Ingram don't have chemistry. At this point in time, Ingram is a one trick pony (he's simply a pound and drive guy); he's what some would call a blackhole. Ingram being an unwilling shooter, not being a cutter are other issues. I can't count how many times i've see Ingram receive the ball wide open, but chooses to dribble and drive to the paint. It seems we'll have to choose whom to build the team around at some point. Unless one of them radically changes their game, they won't fit well together. A pass first pg (who can't shoot) with an iso driver is simply incompatible.

This x a million. I like Ingram and you can see the superstar potential but he is very one demential right now. When he gets that shooting tho he will be deadly.

[what would jack bauer do?]

Ball and Ingram don't have any sort of chemistry together, and they know it. When Ball is "leading" the offense, he never gets Ingram involved even though he's always in a good position to score. On the other hand, when Ingram is the priority, Ball just sulks in the corner and becomes a complete non-factor on offense, almost like he refuses to participate in the offense. In both cases, we're playing 4 v 5.

I'm not sure there's a single lineup we can put out there with Ball that makes us a clear positive on offense. I do know that when you put Ingram out there without Ball on the court, the Lakers become very capable of scoring.

I think you're overthinking things here. It's pretty clear to me why Ball and Ingram don't have chemistry. At this point in time, Ingram is a one trick pony (he's simply a pound and drive guy); he's what some would call a blackhole. Ingram being an unwilling shooter, not being a cutter are other issues. I can't count how many times i've see Ingram receive the ball wide open, but chooses to dribble and drive to the paint. It seems we'll have to choose whom to build the team around at some point. Unless one of them radically changes their game, they won't fit well together. A pass first pg (who can't shoot) with an iso driver is simply incompatible.

This x a million. I like Ingram and you can see the superstar potential but he is very one demential right now. When he gets that shooting tho he will be deadly.

As well as the shooting, I think another part of this is Ingram is not yet a great run/jump athlete. He's still got baby legs. Same goes for Lonzo; reports today say he's dealing with tightness in both calves. Brandon plays more of a hesitation and attack once he's gets the defender off balance because he's not physically mature enough yet to simply out-muscle, out-run, and out-jump guys. Look back at that rookie Westbrook and sophomore Durant team, they were terrible to start the season (3-21) then they started clicking (played .500 post-all star break).

But once these guys get their legs, I think both of their jumpshots will be world's better. Don't judge their chemistry yet, give them a year. Look how long it took Wall and Beal to sync up, maybe like 2 full seasons.

As far as last night goes, our guys didn't lose to the Nuggets we lost to the altitude. Guys played 20 minutes and they were gassed. So many unforced errors. Lonzo literally tripped over his own feet in the second quarter and dribble the ball off his ankle on another play, Randle nearly airballed two free throws, lead passes were misconnecting all night due to fatigue from both the passer and the receiver. I pity the team we play after this cause our squad just got some serious conditioning. Maybe not tonight cause of the back to back but in a few days we are going to be monsters. I expect us to go on a win streak real soon.

[larry14r]

Enough... Russell would be worse for this team than Deng right now... Because at least Deng could actually play!
At the rate he's going with his glass knees and commitment issues, I'll be shocked if D'Angelo Russell is still in the league in 5 years.

Just as I'll be shocked of the Lakers signing a good free agent.

Probably should of acquired a veteran PG, but I wonder if Josh Hart can play the point. He's been very impressive...and impressive finisher, seems to shoot the ball well. I'm sure Magic and Pelinka wouldn't like this, but Ball needs to take a step back until he learns to find consistency. And consistency and offense he can develop off the bench, going against the weaker competition. Ingram came off the bench early on, I don't understand why Ball can't come off the bench. Then maybe bump him back to starter after the all star break.

Because we have no other PGs and Magic already put him the face of the franchise so what does that tell you.