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Lakers suffer a disappointing loss of the season 107-105 to Trail Blazers

Although this was not Laker’s first time losing a game in the season, it might be Los Angeles Laker’s most embarrassing game of the year against the Portland Trail Blazers. The usual culprit, Russel Westbrook, was not the one to blame this time.

With lower back tightness for Russ and left knee injury for LeBron James, it is no wonder that the team did not make it rain in the field on Wednesday night. Thankfully, there were no brick shots, but there were many turnovers.

“The Lakers say both LeBron James (left knee) and Russell Westbrook (lower back tightness) are listed as questionable tonight against Portland,” on a Twitter post from Bill Oram.

Portland is a team full of a rebuild mode. While the team has injured players, from the Lakers, the team still has power forward and center, Anthony Davis, and the shooting guard, Malik Monk. Unfortunately, the teamwork was not good enough tonight.

Turnovers

After the loss that night, James seemingly is ready for a change in the upcoming and very close trade deadline. The 37-year-old knew that there was extra pressure to the team with the franchise’s closing in making decisions with the trade.

“Obviously, this is something that’s weighing on this group that we’re all trying to get through,” James said. “Almost feels like it’s a fog, just fog in the air. And we’re all trying to see what’s on the other side of it.”

James finished the game with 30 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists but he threw the ball away from a total of six times. Davis stuffed the ball with 17 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and five blocks, but he disappeared in the fourth quarter. Monk recorded five turnovers.

Talen Horton-Tucker had four turnovers in 14 minutes off the bench. With the loss, the Lakers dropped to 26-30 with 28 fast break points from Blazers. Overall, Los Angeles turned over 21 times and has a turnover rate of 14.5%, one of the worst in the NBA, and something that the team would want to erase if they want to catch up to the playoffs. After the intense loss of the game, James admitted that he was really tired.

“Literally just — I’m tired as hell right now,” James said Wednesday night. “I just want to get some wine and get up tomorrow. I feel good about what tomorrow has in store, and we’ll see what happens. We’ll see what happens as far as the deadline, but other than that, I’m kind of just focused on what we can do to be better.”

Lakers players grade

According to Michael Corvo of NBA Network on Twitter, despite his tiredness and his yearn for a glass of red, the small forward King James felt responsible for how the team handled the ball on Wednesday.

“I take accountability for that. It starts with being me, being the point guard of tonight’s team. It trickled down to everybody else. I take full responsibility for that,” said James.

Just like school students, players also have their report cards given to them. In this case, players were graded based on their show performance against the Blazers individually.

Austin Reaves: C

Wayne Ellington: B-minus

Talen Horton-Tucker: D-plus

Stanley Johnson: B

Anthony Davis: D-plus

LeBron James: D-plus

Trevor Ariza: C

Malik Monk: F

Avery Bradley: D-minus


LeBron James

LeBron Raymone James Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed “King James”, (wikipedia)


Magic Johnson

Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. is an American former professional basketball player and former president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . (wikipedia)