The sun seems to be setting on the Los Angeles Lakers season after a loss to the Denver Nuggets left the Lakers two games behind the San Antonio Spurs for the final play-in tournament spot. With an extremely challenging schedule left, many fans are finally coming to grips with the reality that the Lakers might be completely absent from the post-season.
Considering the immense hype that was placed on this team all season long, many people are already deeming the 2021-22 Lakers one of the biggest failures of all time in terms of superteams constructed in the NBA. The team was criticized for its makeup in the off-season, with most of the players on the team being veterans who are past their prime. This has been proved on the court all season long.
Lakers fans seem to be completely done with this season, with Twitter abuzz with fans discussing this season and what a failure this alleged superteam was this season.
Most disappointing team in nba history
— Becca Grinnell (@RebeccaGrinnel2) April 3, 2022
You know all the pain has been gone for weeks now when I am dying laughing at this whole thing pic.twitter.com/RmjaxDY2GU
— πΎπ€πππ πππͺππ βΆπ
(@OVOLakeShow) April 2, 2022
Let this sink in 4 SUPERSTARS!! They should be winning despite Vogel's coaching. This was the team that was meant to win 70+ games, but they're NOT EVEN IN THE PLAYOFFS. Nah, the coach isn't the problem here!
— Prodigal Son (@tha1prodigalson) April 4, 2022
no one cuz yβall not gonna get the chanceπ€£π€£ LMAOOIHATEMYLIFEOOO https://t.co/1G3jsqRC94
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) April 3, 2022
Melo is unplayable if you want stops on defense. Monk should really be the starting pg. Itβs willful ignorance that Gabriel and Reaves arenβt getting consistent minutes
— Cueselite (@cueselite) April 4, 2022
nah this was the biggest letdown pic.twitter.com/btJKU6ELG5
— james (@Jchriss11) April 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/Chromium113/status/1510782674876592130https://twitter.com/ShakaZulu10k/status/1510780701280460808
The 21-22 season has gone as bad as the Lakers as it could have. The team was fraught with injuries yet again, missing several key players for stretches of the season. This naturally includes Anthony Davis, who has missed nearly 40 games through injury this season.
Russell Westbrook’s awkward fit plagued the Lakers till very recently, with him finally playing a little better now. However, his play isn’t translating into wins for the Lakers, who have one of the worst defenses in the league. The Lakers prepared their defensive rotations by signing aged veterans like Trevor Ariza, Avery Bradley, and Kent Bazemore, while also playing Carmelo Anthony who is one of the worst defenders in the league.
The emergence of Austin Reaves has been the only bright spot for the Lakers, who haven’t seen scoring leader LeBron James carry the team to the playoffs as he has done before. Hopefully, next season is better for the Lakers as this season has completely capsized for them.