The Lakers struggled early in their first game after the All-Star Break, as the crosstown rival Clippers made them look silly.
LeBron James and LA may now be on the same page after reports that the two sides were headed towards an eventual exit, but all is not well in Los Angeles.
The Lakers looked disinterested defensively (minus Dwight Howard) in the first half against the Clippers. Luke Kennard, of all people, hit his first four shots, including three from behind the arc.
This was all without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, both of whom are out via injury. LA fans understandably want their team to wake up from the All-Star Break slumber. The time is now to make up games in the standings.
Lakers fans upset with effort against Clippers
Without their two best players in George and Leonard, the Clippers don’t have much business playing at such a high clip than their crosstown rivals. The Lakers are running out of time to make a run, with the hopes of not just cementing their spot in the play-in tournament, but perhaps avoiding it altogether.
Fans weren’t happy with the effort early on.
wtf y’all doing @Lakers
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) February 26, 2022
Lakers getting cooked by LUKE KENNARD pic.twitter.com/FwYh6VEU5O
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) February 26, 2022
Clippers have basically been without Kawhi and PG all season and they’re still better than the Lakers. brutal
— Phill (@MeekPhill_) February 26, 2022
I can’t with this Lakers team
— Jon (@kng_jones) February 26, 2022
Zero plan for the Lakers on Offense...
— Allen Sliwa (@AllenSliwa) February 26, 2022
Lakers PLAY DEFENSE
— Anthony Adams-Rule (@SkipBeenLit34) February 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/MookLongway/status/1497423559706226691
https://twitter.com/WeHereLindy/status/1497423551061757953
Lakers wasted another year of Lebron ..
— Sauve (@ItsTimmyBaby__) February 26, 2022
Lakers getting humiliated by the Clippers in a regular season game. Same old same old
— Kobe Bean (@kobe5ringss) February 26, 2022
There were many more frustrated Lakers fans. Los Angeles could still make a comeback, but one has to question their sense of urgency coming out of a long layoff.
Thankfully, the Lakers had a second half to play.