LeBron James perched at the edge of the Lakers’ bench in Philadelphia, a city where victory had eluded him since 2017, witnessing the scoreboard’s relentless climb. Amidst a milestone achievement of surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most minutes played in NBA regular seasons and playoffs, the seasoned 21-year veteran found himself grappling with an unprecedented low.
Never before had his team suffered such a resounding defeat – a staggering 138-94 loss against the 76ers, marking a nadir in his career.
Asked about the changes needed to prevent such a debacle from recurring, he echoed a reporter’s query with a terse response: “Um, a lot.”
Pressed for specifics, James opted for brevity, reiterating, “A lot.”
Following a solid victory in Cleveland on Saturday, the Lakers (10-8) appeared to unravel after being soundly defeated on Monday. James, uncharacteristically concise, and Anthony Davis, foreseeing an intensive film review session ahead of consecutive games in Detroit and Oklahoma City, hinted at the team’s dissatisfaction.
“There’s a chance for us to address this. Analyze it. This isn’t acceptable,” Davis asserted. “But we can’t dwell on it for too long. Reviewing the footage to identify improvements on both ends is beneficial. Yet, we need to refocus for the upcoming games on Wednesday and Thursday. So, acknowledging it, learning from it – without taking it personally – and then moving forward is crucial.”
However, implementing this might be easier said than done. In the past, the team struggled with this level of accountability. Monday’s defeat, the worst this season for the Lakers, presents footage that could challenge the squad’s ability to confront underlying issues.
“I’m aware that during the game, we’ve held each other accountable. Whether someone’s not performing or slacking, we’ve called it out,” Davis explained. “… I don’t think anyone took it personally then. But when you’re sitting down watching the film, it’s a different scenario. It’s in front of the entire team, coaching staff. So, I’m not sure. I don’t think we have players who’d take it personally. But if they do, that might need addressing.”
Coach Darvin Ham pinpointed a lack of competitive drive and a sense of despondency as Philadelphia gained an early edge from beyond the arc. Davis echoed these sentiments.
“Their players were hitting shots. And that’s when sticking together matters most, especially away games. When they’re making shots, you should come together. Similar to facing the Warriors, you anticipate tough shots, that’s their forte. But it can be deflating,” Davis remarked. “Instead of uniting, I felt we somewhat drifted apart tonight. Opting for quick shots, defensive lapses leading to open threes, unusual things for us.”
James noted the Lakers followed their strategy but were overwhelmed by the 76ers’ three-point prowess. Philadelphia attempted 18 more threes and made 15 more than the Lakers, along with a substantial discrepancy in free throws, signifying the 76ers’ control over the game.
Davis acknowledged the challenge in assessing the Lakers, considering the absence of key players like Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura, and Cam Reddish. With a depleted lineup, the Lakers faltered significantly, being outscored 40-14 in the fourth quarter, while opponents like Patrick Beverley reveled in the Lakers’ missteps.
Regarding how a team should respond to such a defeat, James remained uncertain.
“I can only speak for myself,” he asserted.
And?
“I don’t like it.”
