LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers continue to nosedive despite his best efforts. In their most recent matchup, the Lakers fell victim to a 20 point loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite a strong 3rd quarter comeback, the franchise shot poorly from the field, especially from long distance.
This allowed the Timberwolves to take the game. With the loss, the Lakers now have a 29-40 record while Minnesota enjoys a 41-30 record.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Following the game was a post-game interview from LeBron where he addressed the Lakers’ shooting woes. This frustration with the lowly performances, especially in the shooting department, led to many fans sharing their opinions on the Lakers.
LeBron James’ Post Game Statements
Following the loss to the Timberwolves, the ‘King’ sat down with reporters and addressed his team’s shooting problems.
“We got to make shots. It’s that obvious. Teams are daring us to shoot the ball from outside and we’re not making them,” said LeBron.
WATCH THIS STORY: Is LeBron James a Billionaire?
LeBron further explained that the Lakers began the game poorly, but were able to make a comeback in the 3rd quarter where they outscored the Timberwolves by 31 to 19. However, it was the poor shooting that ultimately cost them the game.
Clearly, LeBron doesn’t seem to be happy with his team’s shooting performance and it looks like he’s holding them accountable for it. Moreover, it is yet another indicator of the growing frustration within the franchise.
Twitter in a Frenzy
LeBron’s statements took aback fans on Twitter. They put forward their opinions on the Lakers’ shooting woes. Furthermore, they even cited how the franchise’s lack of defensive presence also plays a role in the losses.
it’s not just Russ either. Melo missed so many open shots yesterday and the game before that. He’s not consistent at all… only guy proven to shoot consistent is dj and of course he gets no minutes 😭 monk is the only player teams respect . They’ve been hounding him
— szn not ovr⚱️ (@honest_laker) March 17, 2022
The Laker’s who can make outside shots don’t defend well and the players who can defend don’t shoot well. That’s this team in a nutshell. Poorly constructed. It’s been like this all season. That’s why we’ve been bad all season. Our highest paid player and PG struggles to do both.
— Larry (@Larryk520) March 17, 2022
They are. It's a simple strategy. Pack the middle and let them Jack up shots, cuz they're probably gonna miss any way, grab the board and let's score on em. 🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/XjUbnW0XSz
— Mr Ron at #ExpoWest2022! #ZingBars Booth 5117 (@MrRon9) March 17, 2022
Furthermore, some fans simply trolled the Lakers. They claimed that they would continue to allow the Lakers to attempt long-distance shots considering their poor accuracy.
BRO, IM DARING THE LAKERS TO TAKE OPEN OUTSIDE SHOTS. https://t.co/MOEmGULdOY
— Pau (@__PauPau11__) March 17, 2022
10/45 yesterday. 13/42 monday. 16/40 sunday. shit, I would too lol https://t.co/2sQbzWi3lr
— shwaay (@_shwaay) March 17, 2022
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In Conclusion
Long-distance shooting has become an integral part of today’s NBA landscape. This is because the teams have recognized the importance of a three-pointer over a two-pointer. The same is the case of the Lakers too! Although they do attempt long-distance shots, their accuracy is very poor.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Moreover, their defense also plays a major factor in the losses. At present, the Lakers are ranked 26th in terms of opponent points per game. It clearly indicates how easily the Lakers allow oppositions to make shots. To make matters worse, the team averages lesser than what they concede. This number is at 110.9 points and is the 13th highest in the league. With just 13 games left, the Lakers would need a miracle to save their season.