The Lakers are within the midst of what has largely been a season stuffed with inconsistency. Los Angeles fell to 21-22 on Friday night time after collapsing within the second half towards the Brooklyn Nets.
At one level within the recreation, the Lakers held a six-point lead, solely to let the sport slip away after they left the locker room for the ultimate two quarters of the competition. The Lakers have been outscored by 24 factors within the second half and allowed solely 44 factors after halftime. That matched the fewest factors they’ve allowed within the second half this season.
The poor second half displaying sparked some blunt criticism from second-year Lakers coach Darvin Ham.
“Speak concerning the story of two totally different halves,” Ham mentioned. “That first half is what we’re working in the direction of. . . . After which the inconsistency confirmed up and reared its head within the second half. . . . Now we have to resolve which crew we’re gonna be.”
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Head coach Darvin Ham of the Los Angeles Lakers watches his crew heat up earlier than the sport towards the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Area on January 19, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Photos)
Ham then urged that the time to make use of excuses had expired.
“It’s over for the reasons,” Ham continued. “We obtained to play basketball.”
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Brooklyn coach Jacque Vaughn informed his crew at halftime he wished them to be extra bodily.
The Nets went on a 23-8 run over a six-minute span within the third quarter to seize an 87-78 benefit. Brooklyn took the lead with a 12-4 run, together with a three-pointer by Bridges to offer them their first lead at 76-74 with 8:09 remaining within the quarter.
LeBron James, #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers, seems to be on through the recreation on January 19, 2024, at Crypto.Com Area in Los Angeles, California. (Tyler Ross/NBAE by way of Getty Photos)
The Lakers performed impressed basketball earlier within the season through the crew’s run to successful the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Event, however they’ve largely underwhelmed since they hoisted the NBA Cup.
The Lakers have gone 7-13 because the event’s championship recreation. The crew has additionally suffered a number of four-game dropping streaks throughout that span.
Head coach Darvin Ham of the Los Angeles Lakers within the first half at Crypto.com Area on January 15, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Photos)
Former NBA coach and present tv broadcaster Doc Rivers identified the doable challenge with the Lakers’ physique language introduced throughout Friday’s loss.
Lakers star Austin Reaves was requested whether or not the crew’s physique language within the second half partially stemmed from any doable frustration with the way in which the sport had been officiated.
“Nah. I believe all of the physique language, frustration comes from dropping,” Reaves responded.
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The Lakers at the moment sit within the tenth spot within the Western Convention standings.
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The Related Press contributed to this report.
