Now was the time to move forward—this was the last game of 2023 and the last matchup of a run of games the Lakers had played away from Los Angeles, 14 out of 19.
Coach Darvin Ham issued something of a proclamation prior to the Lakers’ game in New Orleans, signaling the end of this chapter in their history. Rui Hachimura was going to be the team’s fifth starter as the Lakers advanced with a new starting lineup.
“I believe we will stick with this lineup that you see tonight for the foreseeable future,” Ham stated.
The Lakers lost 129-109 to the Pelicans to cap off an emotional defeat to Minnesota on Saturday, which dealt another blow to the team’s quest for consistency and required a quick turnaround.
Another setback for a team that is back to.500 (17–17) came when Hachimura, who started in place of Cam Reddish (out due to a groin injury), had to leave Sunday’s game in New Orleans due to a calf injury.
As it is, LeBron James remarked. “That is our track record, and we must undoubtedly correct it and improve.”
Taking into account how James and Anthony Davis have performed thus far—both players are more than capable—while the supporting cast has been inconsistent and inconsistent, the record must be especially depressing.
James scored 34 points, which is the 11th-highest number by a 39-year-old in league history, while playing for the second straight game despite being ill. Despite having 20 points apiece from Davis and Austin Reaves, the Pelicans shot over 50% from the field in three-pointers.
Again, injuries forced a first-round reorganization, with the Lakers starting without D’Angelo Russell (tailbone bruise) and Reddish. However, after Hachimura abruptly left Sunday’s game, the new strategy had to be revised.
Reaves had to play with the group to begin the second half; the team has been hesitant to insert him back into the starting lineup. Thirteen of Reaves’ twenty points came in the third.
In the end, though, the Lakers appeared too slow to react to the Pelicans, who scored 42 points against Los Angeles in the opening quarter without ever really slowing down.
The Lakers’ record since winning the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament is just 3-8.
We’ve been having trouble ever since the in-season tournament, Reaves admitted. Health, wounds, illness—we’ve had a bit of bad luck there. However, everyone experiences that in the end. To improve, though, we must examine ourselves in the mirror and determine what we, or I, can do.
