A 56-point performance saved the Lakers against Golden State on Saturday. But without LeBron to save the day against San Antonio, the Purple and Gold dropped another game, and once again became the laughing stock on social media.
This time, the jokes and memes were themed around James “carrying” this struggling and underachieving Lakers team.
Of course, Russell Westbrook (who shot 35% on the night) was also a topic of conversation.
https://twitter.com/MoreSpida/status/1501042378114838535
LEBRON SHOULD GET A MAX CONTRACT FOR CARRYING THIS SHIT @Lakers
— Shevar Bucknor TV (@TvShevar) March 8, 2022
https://twitter.com/maxlacpg/status/1501043035714449416
I see no difference #LakeShow #LakersNation pic.twitter.com/v8sQG3X2P6
— Xx_Russ_Xx (@Russ_Hoops_) March 8, 2022
CAN THE LAKERS BUYOUT WESTBROOK ALREADY? pic.twitter.com/9vDHgyApxV
— Monstah Lynch (@MonstahLynch) March 8, 2022
Westbrook isn’t old, he’s just got the.. pic.twitter.com/fTtfYLZosT
— Chris Hodge (@Chris_Hodge_) March 8, 2022
https://twitter.com/kyriewedslebron/status/1501045190513020931https://twitter.com/Louis_Lavida__/status/1501045108078223366https://twitter.com/DodgerDougan/status/1501044840309477379
Without LeBron & AD, the Lakers badly needed Westbrook, Melo and Dwight to carry them to a win at San Antonio (12th in the West) that was sitting several key rotation players. NOPE. The schedule soon gets brutal. Now it looks like the Lakers will even miss the PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) March 8, 2022
Lebron has to score 56 points for the Lakers to win a game. This can’t be life.😣🤮 pic.twitter.com/7hZkEuUBxd
— Munch Sports (@Munch_Sports) March 8, 2022
Russell Westbrook took over with LeBron out😤😤😤
5-14 35.7%
0-2 3PT
7-13 FT 53.8%
6 turnovers
4 fouls pic.twitter.com/xZ28GQIEAb
— Orange ni Kai 🍊 (IA) (@Kawhi_Goat) March 8, 2022
Even with LeBron, the Lakers haven’t been a very good team. Without him (and Anthony Davis), they hardly stood a chance against the well-coached Spurs.
After the loss, L.A. is down to 28-36 on the season, 5 games back from the Clippers for the 8th seed in the West, and just a game ahead of the 10th place Pelicans.
If the franchise still wants to try and make a run in the playoffs, they face an uphill battle. Assuming they get through the play-in tournament, the Lakers will have to face some steep competition without home-court advantage on their side.
For some, the odds are so heavily stacked against them, the Lakers are just better off shutting LeBron down for the rest of the season.
“The Lakers are not going anywhere, and when you look at their remaining schedule in the month of March,” said Kendrick Perkins. “…it’s only one team which I see them beating, and that’s the Houston Rockets. LeBron James is not fully healthy, so why even waste time? Why even put all that workload on this old veteran senior citizen guy? That you are gonna need next year.”
So far, LeBron James has not shown any indication of tapping out. Despite the team’s struggles, he’s all-in on turning things around and saving the season.
Sadly, that task may prove impossible, even for him. With each loss, it becomes more and more apparent that there’s something fundamentally wrong with the team and it will take more than hard work and dedication to bring success.
Change is needed.
