ATLANTA —
Russell Westbrook stood in his defensive stance whereas Trae Younger calmly received able to assault — and that assault was coming sooner than the Lakers might’ve realized.
Younger rapidly launched a three-pointer from 30 ft out, the ball rattling across the rim earlier than falling via the ring — a becoming ending for the Lakers’ six-game journey, the crew shut however, once more, not ok.
“Simply fell brief,” coach Frank Vogel mentioned.
The Hawks, regardless of permitting the Lakers to attain at will for a lot of the recreation, outgunned them 129-121, capping the season-long journey with 4 losses in opposition to simply two wins (in opposition to Orlando and a very-undermanned Brooklyn).
Malik Monk, returning after lacking Friday’s recreation in Charlotte, scored 33 with 10 rebounds. Anthony Davis, additionally again after lacking Friday, added 27 and Russell Westbrook scored 20 with seven rebounds and 12 assists. And nonetheless, in some way, it wasn’t ok, even with the Lakers making 54% of their pictures.
A part of the problem was making solely 12 of 23 free throws. And whereas the Hawks missed 11 from the road, too, Atlanta took 9 extra free throws.
“We’re pissed off proper now as a result of we’re purported to win this recreation. And it’s self-inflicted errors. In order that’s the irritating half — the place we will management these errors,” Davis mentioned. “Trae hit powerful pictures. You'll be able to’t management that. However the little issues — the offensive rebounds, the turnovers — you'll be able to management these issues to offer your self an opportunity to win a basketball [game]. In order that’s essentially the most irritating half.”
Younger tortured the Lakers’ protection for a lot of the day, however particularly late, carving up the coverages and leaving gamers like Davis visibly pissed off. Younger discovered former USC massive man Onyeka Okongwu for a lob after which stepped again to hit jumpers, unfazed by regardless of the Lakers threw at him.
He completed with 36 factors and 12 assists.
After profitable the shootout with Atlanta for 3 quarters, the Lakers scored solely 20 factors within the fourth whereas permitting the Hawks to outscore them by 18 — a depressing ending to a visit that didn’t present solutions to any of the Lakers’ massive questions.
“They picked the strain up,” Monk mentioned, “and we performed proper into their fingers.”
The Lakers left for Orlando 11 days in the past on this journey, sure of actually just one factor. Win or lose, chaos or not, LeBron James would play nicely.
Their journey ended with James already again in Los Angeles, his swollen knee holding him out of a 3rd straight recreation leaving the Lakers short-handed of their shot at breaking even on this journey.
James had missed video games in Philadelphia and Charlotte earlier than returning to Los Angeles on Saturday. He underwent an MRI examination on his knee, with Vogel saying the scan solely revealed basic swelling.
Vogel mentioned it’s a chance that James might play Wednesday in opposition to Portland if the swelling goes down, although he’ll bear additional examinations early this week.
“So long as the swelling is there, he’s going to be out,” Vogel mentioned pregame. “And hopefully [we’ll] get him again as quickly as we will.”
Previous to the harm, James mentioned he was in top-of-the-line offensive rhythms of his profession. He had scored at the least 25 factors in 18 straight video games (17 with Davis injured). Over these 18 video games, James averaged 32.5 factors whereas making 54% of his pictures.
On the season, James is capturing 52.2% — his finest field-goal share since becoming a member of the Lakers. He’s doing it on 20.9 pictures per recreation — essentially the most he’s taken for a crew since 2007-08 when he was 23.
And whereas James has repeatedly maintained that his workload this season isn’t greater than he can deal with — his knee harm is the third separate ailment (ankle, stomach) to sideline him for a number of video games this season.
So whilst James has performed like a a lot youthful participant when he’s been on the ground, a few of the accidents counsel his age, 37, remains to be value contemplating.
“Yeah, I give it some thought each day. We’re at all times aware of the load that he’s carrying, in fixed communication with him and the medical crew,” Vogel mentioned. “And when it comes to what we do going ahead with the knee and the place he’s at, it’s actually a heavy lean on the medical workers and [assistant athletic trainer] Mike Mancias and what they really feel is finest. It’s actually not a head coach factor as a lot as it's counting on the medical crew.”
As issues slipped away within the fourth, the offense chilly and the protection struggling, James’ absence was felt.
“He’s simply on the market orchestrating all the pieces for us. He’s missed. Tremendously,” Monk mentioned. “Nevertheless it’s our job to determine the way to play with out him. We’re not at all times going to have him.”
The Lakers had been shut — shut in opposition to Charlotte on Friday, shut in opposition to Atlanta on Sunday — just a few extra stops on Ish Smith on Friday, just a few extra made free throws Sunday away from a profitable journey. However getting shut isn’t ok, not with the Lakers sub .500 (24-27) and scrambling for wins.
“Not sufficient vitality, not sufficient urgency on each ends,” Monk mentioned. “We didn’t reply the best way we had been purported to.”
And if the Lakers don’t get it proper, identical to a Trae Younger jumper, the top will come faster than they’re prepared for.
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