The Los Angeles Lakers’ 125-108 loss to the Phoenix Suns snapped their seven-game winning streak and exposed several deep-seated issues, most notably the fact that their bench is the lowest-scoring unit in the entire NBA. In games against good teams like the Suns, a solid rotation is essential when the starters struggle, which was exactly the case last night. The Lakers’ winning streak came entirely against teams with losing records (a combined record of 22-62). They had not played a team with a winning record since November 12th, and the rust showed, despite Phoenix’s best player, Devin Booker, leaving the game after playing only 10 minutes due to injury.
James Puts Personal Record Above Team Leadership
As mentioned, if your starters have a bad night and your bench is ineffective, defeat is almost inevitable. Luka Doncic had a game-high 38 points but also recorded his season-high of nine turnovers, admitting afterward that he can’t have those types of performances and that the loss was largely his fault. After Luka, Austin Reaves was the next-highest scorer with 16 points.
However, the player who drew the most attention for his poor performance was LeBron James, who finished with a dismal 10 points on 3-for-10 shooting, three assists, and zero rebounds, one of his worst statistical games in years.
James looked slow for much of the game. In the final quarter, with the Lakers trailing by 20 points for most of the frame, it became evident that James was primarily focused on extending his streak of 1,296 consecutive games scoring 10 or more points. He achieved the milestone with a three-pointer that cut the lead to 22, immediately glancing at the jumbotron to check his point total before being substituted for Bronny James a minute later. It was clear James prioritized maintaining his personal streak, regardless of the loss.
His lack of engagement was further highlighted when Coach JJ Redick called a timeout while the team was down by 21 points. While teammates headed to the bench, James stayed on the court laughing with the Suns’ bench, a moment that showed poor leadership for the face of the franchise, regardless of his status.
Focus Must Shift as the Season Continues
LeBron turns 41 this month, and this type of decline in his on-court performance is understandable. However, his leadership appeared poor in this particular instance, and while pursuing his scoring streak (which is unlikely to ever be surpassed) is his prerogative, it should not overshadow his role as the team’s veteran leader. The Lakers must quickly put this loss behind them as they face a crucial three-game road trip in the East against the Raptors, Celtics, and Sixers before returning home to play the NBA Cup quarter-finals against the Spurs.
Read the full article here
