The Los Angeles Lakers went to Canada to face the Toronto Raptors in a must-win game for the Lakers after falling short to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the game before. However, the Lakers ended up resting both LeBron James and Anthony Davis, meaning the Raptors were about to have a massive advantage.
With LBJ and AD not playing, the Lakers just did not put up a fight. They were trailing by over 20 points early in the game and hovered around that score difference for the rest of the game. The loss means the Lakers have now fallen to 10-14 on the season, still a few games behind even a play-in spot. The Raptors won the game 113-126.
Final from Toronto pic.twitter.com/ar7WEkwrVW
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 8, 2022
Lakers’ Anthony Davis (illness) and LeBron James (ankle) are out tonight vs. Raptors.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 7, 2022
No sane person is watching the Lakers without Bron and AD my brother https://t.co/qSXW35HzOd
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) December 8, 2022
half pic.twitter.com/eVvmJauwyF
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 8, 2022
Lonnie -37 gotta be close to the highest ever recorded
— outbreezy (@outbreezyWC) December 8, 2022
Russell Westbrook putting Fred Vanvleet and Gary Trent Jr. in the torture rack tonight ?? pic.twitter.com/CUjeQy7tVl
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) December 7, 2022
Because of 2 games y'all were talking about resigning 😭😭
— 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙎𝙝𝙪𝙗𝙝 ⁶𓅓 (@OVOLakeShow) December 8, 2022
The Lakers need him to have more games like the one he had in Milwaukee. Double digit assists with no turnovers. Why can't @russwest44 do that more often?
— Matt Sinatra 🤌 (@TheMattSinatra) December 8, 2022
So when lebron/AD are in the lineup its "russ not allowed to be a point guard" but when they're gone it's "he's surrounded by bad players?"
Pick one but you can't have both, tryna keep up w all the excuses is an Olympic sport. https://t.co/ugNO8Hj2HE
— 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙎𝙝𝙪𝙗𝙝 ⁶𓅓 (@OVOLakeShow) December 8, 2022
Not much to take from these last two honestly than hope Jones and Dennis can translate their games to when the team is fully healthy. Not enough talent to survive against solid teams without one of the big two, let alone both.
— Raj C. (@RajChipalu) December 8, 2022
Embarrassing
— 🥷🏽 (@LBJcrib) December 8, 2022
The West is incredibly competitive this season, with the Lakers being the 13th seed with their record. However, they are only just 6 games behind the No. 1 seed in the Conference, so another run of wins this season could set the Lakers up for the playoff battle.
Are The Lakers Going To Make The Playoffs?
It won’t be easy for the Lakers to get the separation they need to enter the playoffs in the West. Out of all the teams ahead, only the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz will likely stop their playoff push later in the season. That still means the Lakers will have to fight to be in a position to capitalize.
With December 15 coming closer and closer, the Lakers could change their fortunes with one trade for a genuinely reliable option beyond AD and LeBron. While players like Bojan Bogdanovic might change the season trajectory for the Lakers, we have to wait and see whether the team will go all-in and trade for him, or anybody else.
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