The Lakers have lost games this season that they should have won. Every team does over the course of an 82-game season. They all count. So technically speaking, Thursday's 119-117 loss to the Bulls in Chicago is just one game on the calendar, like all the others. Except this late in the year, when there are so few games remaining, the impact of these terrible losses is far higher. So given that they were up by double digits with under five minutes to play, up by five with 12 seconds to play, and up by one with three seconds remaining... yeah, this one's gonna bruise. Especially when LeBron James, who is as smart a player the game has ever seen, was part of two plays that helped turn a win into a loss. First, on an inbounds pass with 12.6 seconds remaining, James got caught in no man's land, rotating too high towards Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, who swung the ball to Pat Williams in the corner. LeBron couldn't close fast enough, and Williams buried the triple. Then, with a timeout available, LeBron dropped a horrible inbound pass in the direction of Austin Reaves that was easily picked off by Bulls guard Josh Giddey, who kicked it to Coby White for another three. Five point lead? Try one point deficit. You could watch LeBron play 100 more games before seeing a play that bad. And then James, like everyone else on the Lakers, let Giddey move unobstructed up the floor for his buzzer beating heave from halfcourt. LeBron wasn't the only culprit, to be sure. Luka Dončić got off to a terrible start, got hot in the second half, but took a few questionable shots down the stretch. LA also caught some bad luck, as Chicago went nuclear in the fourth quarter, hitting 11-14 3-point attempts. That, as JJ Redick noted after the game, would be considered good work even in an empty gym. And it still took a 47-footer for the Bulls to win. But that's kind of the point. The Lakers did so much good stuff to overcome a slow start and put what seemed like a stranglehold on the game. But a little organic bad luck combined with a lot of the type the Lakers created for themselves means they lost out on an opportunity to stick closer to the Nuggets for the 3-seed, and missed a chance to move ahead of Memphis and give themselves a better grip on the fourth spot. It's fair to wonder how they'll react heading into a critical game Saturday against the Grizzlies. Redick said they don't have time to feel sorry for themselves, and the staff won't let them, anyway. So while it's easy to wonder about the emotional impact and any potential for carryover into the weekend, the more immediate hit is practical. This hurts the Lakers in the standings. It almost certainly eliminates a shot at the 2-seed, even with two games remaining against Houston, unless the Rockets totally collapse. It hurts their efforts to keep home court in the first round, and it keeps the threat of dropping to 7th and the play-in tournament alive. In short, it's bad, and the way it happened, with so many moments where it seemed the Lakers would walk away with a win, literally until the end? Certainly makes it feel worse. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: What was LeBron thinking? SEGMENT 2: Failures down the stretch. SEGMENT 3: Practical impact. Your favorite podcast now has a newsletter! In One-stop for ultimate team and league coverage delivered right to your in box. Sign up for free now, at lockedondaily.com. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuelRight now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
The Lakers have lost games this season that they should have won. Every team does over the course of an 82-game season.
They all count. So technically speaking, Thursday's 119-117 loss to the Bulls in Chicago is just one game on the calendar, like all the others. Except this late in the year, when there are so few games remaining, the impact of these terrible losses is far higher. So given that they were up by double digits with under five minutes to play, up by five with 12 seconds to play, and up by one with three seconds remaining... yeah, this one's gonna bruise.
Especially when LeBron James, who is as smart a player the game has ever seen, was part of two plays that helped turn a win into a loss. First, on an inbounds pass with 12.6 seconds remaining, James got caught in no man's land, rotating too high towards Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, who swung the ball to Pat Williams in the corner. LeBron couldn't close fast enough, and Williams buried the triple. Then, with a timeout available, LeBron dropped a horrible inbound pass in the direction of Austin Reaves that was easily picked off by Bulls guard Josh Giddey, who kicked it to Coby White for another three. Five point lead? Try one point deficit.
You could watch LeBron play 100 more games before seeing a play that bad.
And then James, like everyone else on the Lakers, let Giddey move unobstructed up the floor for his buzzer beating heave from halfcourt.
LeBron wasn't the only culprit, to be sure. Luka Dončić got off to a terrible start, got hot in the second half, but took a few questionable shots down the stretch. LA also caught some bad luck, as Chicago went nuclear in the fourth quarter, hitting 11-14 3-point attempts. That, as JJ Redick noted after the game, would be considered good work even in an empty gym. And it still took a 47-footer for the Bulls to win.
But that's kind of the point. The Lakers did so much good stuff to overcome a slow start and put what seemed like a stranglehold on the game. But a little organic bad luck combined with a lot of the type the Lakers created for themselves means they lost out on an opportunity to stick closer to the Nuggets for the 3-seed, and missed a chance to move ahead of Memphis and give themselves a better grip on the fourth spot. It's fair to wonder how they'll react heading into a critical game Saturday against the Grizzlies. Redick said they don't have time to feel sorry for themselves, and the staff won't let them, anyway.
So while it's easy to wonder about the emotional impact and any potential for carryover into the weekend, the more immediate hit is practical. This hurts the Lakers in the standings. It almost certainly eliminates a shot at the 2-seed, even with two games remaining against Houston, unless the Rockets totally collapse. It hurts their efforts to keep home court in the first round, and it keeps the threat of dropping to 7th and the play-in tournament alive.
In short, it's bad, and the way it happened, with so many moments where it seemed the Lakers would walk away with a win, literally until the end? Certainly makes it feel worse.
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: What was LeBron thinking?
SEGMENT 2: Failures down the stretch.
SEGMENT 3: Practical impact.
Monarch Money
Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year.
Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.
FanDuel
Right now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)