After starting the game on a 10-0 run, the Lakers looked like a team on a mission on Sunday night. It was a game they needed to win, as the result could very well determine who makes the play-in tournament next month.
Unfortunately for Lakers Nation, they had to watch in horror as their team blew a big lead down the stretch to lose the game.
It was an epic collapse and ruined what was a special night for LeBron James (who passed the 37,00 point mark). On Twitter, things got pretty intense as fans around the country flamed the team for their failures.
UN. REAL. LEBRON WENT COLD, COULDN'T CLOSE AND THE FAKERS BLEW A 20-POINT HALFTIME LEAD AND GOT OUTSCORED IN THE 2ND HALF 67-39!!! LESHANNON SHARPE JUST LOST TWO MORE CASES OF DEW TO ME. WILL HE EVEN SHOW UP FOR TOMORROW'S UNDISPUTED???
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) March 28, 2022
Lebron: And for my NEXT TRICK I will DISAPPEAR IN THE 4TH! pic.twitter.com/vMO6F0BQ14
— Him (@SouthboyDucky) March 28, 2022
https://twitter.com/DepressedCR7Fan/status/1508255966181003270
This is fuckin embarrassing. https://t.co/tQfoaEBZu9
— Jesus Yanez (@_Yeezus15) March 28, 2022
https://twitter.com/mutebilx_qato/status/1508255941732491264
Tonight's game was the perfect example of what this Lakers team could be (first half) and what the team truly is (second half).
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) March 28, 2022
The Lakers were up 23.
Until they weren't. pic.twitter.com/jYZTvAloCW
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) March 28, 2022
Lakers blew a 20 point lead and Russ had 18/7/6 while shooting 53% from the floor pic.twitter.com/3hi2RyuO9C
— 7️⃣EZ Money Brodie0️⃣💰💵💸 (@1Leeky_3Leek) March 28, 2022
Lakers choked a 23pt lead and lost 😭😭 WE SUCKpic.twitter.com/tz3O1pbN6w
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) March 28, 2022
https://twitter.com/SYLENSIO/status/1508257394505437186
Many of the comments were harsh, but it illustrates the level of frustration all Lakers fans are feeling right now.
On paper, a team with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard should be competing for a title.
Instead, they are struggling to make the play-in with less than 10 games to go.
Even if they do make it in, not everyone is convinced they’ll be able to turn it on for a 7-game series.
“I still think the Pelicans, in a play-in scenario, could beat the Los Angeles Lakers without Zion,” said Jay Williams. “We’re all of a sudden expecting the Lakers just to turn it on down the stretch? I know LeBron James can turn it on. I don’t know if everybody else can turn it on around him to beat the Pelicans.”
The loss slid Los Angeles back to the 10th seed, just 1 game back from the Spurs, who are on a 3-game win streak and 6-4 in their last 10 matches.
Time is running out for the Lakers to save their season, and with the competition getting stronger every year, this team cannot afford to waste any opportunity to win.
Sadly, this team is failing every test. We will see if they’re able to hang on during these last few weeks of regular-season action.
