ATLANTA — The bar for the Lakers to clear Friday evening to look useful was remarkably low, a pair of unimaginably unhealthy losses in Minnesota and Miami making “don’t get embarrassed” the first hurdle the Lakers wanted to clear.
However the objectives, even after two brutal performances, are increased than that.
The Lakers, whereas technically 70 factors worse than the Timberwolves and Warmth, have proven they could be a successful crew, a crew that may share the ball, hit pictures and, every now and then, credibly defend.
“The consistency is probably the frustrating part,” coach JJ Redick mentioned earlier than the sport. “It’s the consistency because the group has shown that they can do it. The guys have shown that they can do it. It’s just the consistency for everything.”
In opposition to the immediately scorching Hawks, the Lakers confirmed that they might, the truth is, do the issues required to win. They usually did so most of the issues that normally trigger groups to lose.
However victory doesn’t require perfection — simply a bonus. And the Lakers couldn’t finish with one. Their 134-132 extra time loss was filled with issues they did properly and essential errors that meant they left with a loss.
With the Lakers up one in extra time, Anthony Davis’ move to LeBron James was too informal, and Dyson Daniels stepped in entrance for the steal, no defenders between him and a go-ahead basket. However James, like he has so many occasions, caught as much as the play from behind, a game-saving swat of the ball tipping the sting simply so barely again to the Lakers.
The Lakers, although, couldn’t cleanly inbound the ball, and Atlanta compelled a tie-up with Davis and obtained possession after the ball went out of bounds off James.
Lakers star LeBron James reacts to a foul name throughout the second half Friday.
(Brynn Anderson / Related Press)
With the sport on the road, the one participant on the courtroom whom the Lakers didn’t need open, Trae Younger, obtained open and hit a go-ahead three. James’ last-ditch likelihood to flip the sport one remaining time with a possible successful three clanked off the rim, and the Lakers misplaced for the seventh time in 9 video games.
“I don’t know as far as what will get us over the hump,” a clearly annoyed James mentioned. “We just gotta just not drown. Don’t drown and we’ll be all right.”
Redick, in an try and get extra physicality on the courtroom, moved guard D’Angelo Russell again to the bench and began Gabe Vincent. Austin Reaves remained out, again in Los Angeles recovering from the damage to his again/pelvic space that has value him 4 video games.
“We can be better. Energy, effort, physicality — I think we took a huge step tonight but I think we’re capable of a lot,” Vincent mentioned. “We’re still not whole. We can be better, for sure.”
Vincent responded along with his finest sport as a Laker, scoring 12 factors and taking part in the sort of protection the Lakers wished. However he and Davis miscommunicated on a swap on the high of the important thing resulting in Younger’s three, crushing the Lakers on an evening after they performed principally good basketball.
“Messed up,” Redick mentioned. “…Left him open.”
James scored 39 factors with 11 assists and 10 rebounds, hitting six of 11 from three. Davis had 38 factors, 10 rebounds and eight assists, bouncing again after a depressing sport in Miami.
“If we continue to bring this mentality we had tonight,” Davis mentioned, “we’ll be fine.”
The Lakers, who’ve been in a dull hunch for many of the final two weeks after a heartbreaking loss to Orlando and spirit-snapping one to acquainted foe Denver, discovered an precise rhythm early within the second half. They unleashed a 13-0 run on the Hawks, flying across the courtroom, getting stops whereas changing on the offensive finish, James even hitting a one-legged three, his dry spell seemingly solved.
However as quickly as they did that, Atlanta made three straight threes, dashing any hope of rolling to the tip.
Within the fourth quarter, the Lakers’ execution and decision-making had been good. Till they weren’t.
Main within the remaining minutes, the Lakers tried to bleed the clock by inbounding the ball with it working, the shot clock not but triggered. Daniels hustled for the ball and Davis jumped in entrance of him and obtained referred to as for an unlawful display screen.
Daniels scored on the subsequent possession to place the Hawks up. The Lakers scored twice late to tie the rating, and Max Christie blocked Younger’s potential winner to ship the sport to extra time.
The Lakers (12-11) didn’t get embarrassed. However they didn’t win both. The bar on this journey has been lowered, the Lakers compelled to search out silver linings after their opponent made extra huge performs than they did.
“I told the group that I appreciated their effort, their intent, their energy. And truthfully, a lot of their execution,” Redick mentioned. “We did enough to win a basketball game. Similar to Orlando, similar to Oklahoma City, I thought we did enough to win a basketball game. And I’m very appreciative of that.
“And you can build on that. You can adjust and scheme and maybe tweak some things, late game. That stuff you can build on.”
