The Los Angeles Lakers are mired in a rough January, and LeBron James says the team cannot wait for a full roster before turning things around.
Since Jan. 7, the Lakers have dropped five of six games, posting a minus-6.8 average point differential. Guard Austin Reaves has missed the entire stretch, and Luka Doncic, James, Deandre Ayton, Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura have each sat out at least once.
The latest setback came Saturday night at Moda Center, where an undermanned Los Angeles squad fell to the Portland Trail Blazers, 112-96. Playing without Reaves, Doncic, Hayes and Ayton, the Lakers were outrebounded 42-27 and trailed by double digits most of the evening. James finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists while shooting 6-for-16.
“Yeah, we have to,” James said on Spectrum SportsNet when asked if the Lakers must find ways to win despite the injuries. “Because at the end of the day, no one is feeling sorry for us, nor are we looking for it. We have what’s available and we gotta go out there and play our game, play the way we want to play offensively and defensively and just try to right the ship until we get whole.”
The schedule offers little relief. Los Angeles returns home Sunday to face the Toronto Raptors, who sit fourth in the Eastern Conference at 25-18. Another loss would drop the Lakers from sixth to seventh in the West, with the Phoenix Suns trailing by mere percentage points.
Frustration With Free-Throw Disparity
Portland attempted 34 free throws Saturday, including an NBA season-high 22 in the first quarter. After the game, head coach JJ Redick and James voiced concern about inconsistent officiating, saying the league needs a clearer standard from night to night. Both emphasized the issue was not an excuse for the defeat but a lingering source of frustration.
The Lakers continue their fight for playoff positioning while hoping for the return of their injured core.
Source: Lakers Nation
