LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers’ horrible start to the season managed to get worse as the team fell to a 110-99 loss at the hands of the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers were without Russell Westbrook, which made people expect a better performance from the team. However, they were not going to be the ones to deliver it against a team like Denver.
LeBron James did try his best. After a slow start in the first quarter where he didn’t even try to shoot the ball, LeBron got more aggressive throughout the game. Despite that, LeBron could score just 19 points on poor 8-21 shooting splits. The worst part about this has to be the 8 turnovers coughed by James, more in one game than Westbrook has had this season. Fans were not happy about this and let James have it.
Final: Nuggets 110, Lakers 99
The Lakers fall to 0-4 — their worst start since the 2015-16 season. Anthony Davis had 22 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. LeBron James had 19 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists and 8 turnovers.
Up next: at Minnesota on Friday.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) October 27, 2022
https://twitter.com/DT1520/status/1585480238062268416
The lakers have taken the joy away in watching Lebron James man đź’” with no due respect
— Mark Jackson’s Burner (@casualtakeking) October 27, 2022
LeBron when he doesn’t get the foul call pic.twitter.com/APXmJE2Nvb
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) October 27, 2022
https://twitter.com/GeraldBourguet/status/1585487621064515585
LeBron turnovers are killing the Lakers, but so are the no calls that he is getting
— LegendOfWinning (@LegendOfWinning) October 27, 2022
It's like LeBron (8 turnovers) has taken Westbrook's place.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 27, 2022
Lebron has more turnovers so far in this game than Russ has all season. He’s Bron though so it’s fine.
— Nek (@nekhoops) October 27, 2022
LeBron is almost solely responsible for that 7-0 Denver run.
3 turnovers, a smoked layup and two awful transition defense possessions.
Winnable game here. Has to lead the way.
— Jason Timpf (@_JasonLT) October 27, 2022
Point Guard LeBron is 8-21 FG with 8 turnovers, imagine if they let the real point guard play PG 🤔
— ᴇʀᴀ 🕷️ (@TheWestbrookEra) October 27, 2022
As much as this team sucks as a whole. This game is on Lebron played like shit looked like Westbrook was out there at times with careless turnovers
— AngelG (@Angel56631163) October 27, 2022
LeBron with 7 points 7 assists 6 turnovers Ik somebody who would get completely destroyed for this
— Joey Netland ( #1 Russ and Paige fan) (DEN 39-22) (@joey_netland4) October 27, 2022
lebron had 8 turnovers, shot 38%, and played 0 defense tonight lmao
— brodie szn 🌨️ (@russgoat4) October 27, 2022
REAL TALK
LEBRON THIS GAME IS ON YOU BRO.
ALL THAT AGGRESSION YOU STARTED THE 4TH WITH. SHOULD HAVE BEEN STARTED IN THE 1ST.
PLUS TURNOVERS MISSED LAYUPS & BLOWN DEFENSIVE ASSIGNMENTS.
— LAKERS4LIFENETWORK (@VHYOUNGIIWORLD) October 27, 2022
Considering how Russ has been held accountable for losses with similar performances, it’s no surprise to see fans come after LeBron. ‘The Chosen One’ is clearly incapable of backpacking his team’s success as he used to in previous years.
Do The Lakers Stand A Chance At A Playoff Spot?
If the Lakers don’t make a trade, they’re going to end up giving the New Orleans Pelicans the draft right to Victor Wembanyama. This season has been filthy for the Lakers, who don’t look capable of even getting one win on the year. We have never seen a LeBron James-led team in such a hole before.
Even though Westbrook can’t be blamed for this loss, the Lakers won’t get better until they use his massive $46 million contract and trade it away for 2 or 3 rotational players. Westbrook not being on the court today is good for him, because the way the Lakers are constructed, they would have lost with him on the court too.
A big trade to get good depth around LeBron and AD is the only way the Lakers can make the playoffs this season, but it doesn’t look like the Lakers’ front office will make any moves.