This season, the Los Angeles Lakers have been a model of inconsistency. In between some inspiring performances, the Purple and Gold frequently let everyone down with lackluster efforts.
Sadly, Saturday night’s match against Denver falls into the latter category.
In what ended up being a 37-point defeat, the Lakers looked lost from the very beginning, and fans couldn’t help but express major disappointment all throughout the night.
Once it was all over, basketball legend James Worthy shared some of his thoughts about the state of the club.
“I saw a team that has not been able to gather any momentum. In the Denver game tonight I just didn’t see a team that showed up. For Denver to be able to do what they did, shoot the high percentages from both the field and three-pointers. I look at a guy like Jeff Green, who averages like 10 points a game, he had 26. Everyone got what they wanted.
For me, they gotta decide what they wanna do as far as playing with effort is concerned. These were effort plays. Denver’s good, Jokic is good, but I just didn’t see a team that showed up to play a tough game a hard game, in the effort department. They have to do some soul searching with this type of game.”
"They have to do some soul searching with this type of game." Our 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙉𝙚𝙩 panel discuss tonight's loss over the Nuggets. pic.twitter.com/jgykYH42tU
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 16, 2022
The effort has been a big concern for the Lakers all season long. With abysmal showings, especially on the defensive end, one has to wonder what these players are feeling at this point.
Now, at 21-22 in the West and plenty of steep competition to worry about, it has become clear that turning the season around will be an uphill climb and there are many issues they will have to address on the way.
In the meantime, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook have to spark new life into the club or risk digging themselves down an even deeper hole.
