If the Los Angeles Lakers continue their downward spiral and miss the playoffs, their effort in Wednesday night’s loss to the Houston Rockets might represent rock bottom in what has been a hugely disappointing season.
The Lakers remain the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference, but they are now 28-37 after losing nine of their last 11 games. Their latest poor effort may have been their worst of the season. L.A. was beaten by a Rockets team that entered Wednesday’s game with just 16 wins. There were times in Houston’s 139-130 overtime victory that it looked like the Lakers simply weren’t trying.
With time winding down in OT, LeBron James didn’t even attempt to stop Alperen Sengun from getting off a three-point shot.
Lakers got ran off the court by the Rockets.
LeBron with no effort at the end.
Just a defeated team. End the season man. pic.twitter.com/M4XEGDAWUK
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 10, 2022
There were other points in the game where you would have sworn the Lakers heard a whistle and stopped playing. Take this defensive “effort” from Russell Westbrook, for example.
Watch the Defensive Help & Effort from Westbrook here. It’s INFURIATING if you’re a @Lakers fan! 44 Mil this year and stuck with him next year for 47 Mil… Yikes! The Lakers are DOOMED! pic.twitter.com/B5BdOQpCSf
— Roger Lodge (@RogerLodge7) March 10, 2022
Despite the embarrassing lowlights, Lakers coach Frank Vogel defended his team after the loss.
Frank Vogel: "Our guys competed, they fought. … We get everybody's best shot and those guys played terrific."
— Bill Oram (@billoram) March 10, 2022
If that is what fighting looks like, we would hate to see the Lakers loafing.
Westbrook has openly started firing back at fans who criticize him, but he and his teammates deserve the heckling. Losing is one thing. Handing a lowly opponent wide-open looks because you don’t feel like trying is just plain embarrassing. You have to wonder if the Lakers even want to make the postseason.
