Getting swept 4-0 in the NBA playoffs has a tendency to cause some major changes, and the Lakers are no exception. Despite a rather impressive run to the Conference Finals, the franchise finds itself re-evaluating the entire roster as they prepare to make some tough contract decisions.
Among the many subjects for debate will be the future of D’Angelo Russell, who was practically a no-show in the series against Denver. After shooting poorly through all four games, he was ridiculed by the NBA media and even by former point guard Gilbert Arenas, who recently went viral for his scathing review of D’Lo.
“They wanna shoot shots after the game… you should have shot them during the game. D’Lo… How many shots did he take after the last game? Probably like 200! To come the next game and take 2 shots? Get the f*ck off my team.”
Gilbert Arenas slams D’Angelo Russell
“How many shots did he take after the last game? Probably like 200 ! To come the next game and take 2 shots? Get the f*ck off my team.”😂😂😂
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 23, 2023
Russell was getting exposed to increasing variations as the playoffs got deeper and deeper, and it got to a point where D’Lo looked visibly shaken, trying to keep up with the Nuggets’ overwhelming defense.
Overall, Lakers fans already had mixed reviews of Russell. While he could get hot at times, he also has a habit of making bad decisions and committing stupid turnovers that can change the tide of a game. Russell had been playing a lot better until his confidence was rattled in the final round.
Who Is The Most To Blame For The Lakers’ Collapse?
While Russell is the easy scapegoat for L.A.’s loss, it’s not the only thing to point to as the source of their downfall. Injuries plagued the team all year, and even to the end, it was clear that LeBron wasn’t quite 100%.
There’s also the inexperience of Darvin Ham, which was put on full display when he refused to make critical lineup adjustments.
The biggest culprit of all, however, is the Nuggets. They were clearly the better team, and they were showing that all season long. If the Lakers want to get back at them and make amends for this failure, they will need to build a squad that can keep up with Nikola Jokic and the West’s newest powerhouse in the Mile High City.
With or without D’Angelo Russell, the Lakers will be wasting no time trying to get better.
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