Frustrated Malik Monk Bashes Lakers as Anthony Davis Misses Clutch Shot: “We’re Tired of Talking About It. We Gotta Figure It Out”

The Los Angeles Lakers have had a poor season so far. Playing way below expectations, the big three of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook, have not been able to deliver match-winning performances on a consistent basis. After their latest loss against their local rivals – LA Clippers, the Lakers now sit at 8th place in the West with a 25-28 record.

Going into the game, the Lakers would have expected to win against a Clippers team that has been devoid of their stars – Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Despite LeBron sitting out due to injury, Lakers fans believed that their team would come out on top with help from Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. But a clutch shot from Clippers’ guard Reggie Jackson, followed by a last-second miss from AD, secured the Clippers’ win.

One of the reasons behind the Lakers’ poor season is their 3rd quarter performance, and this is exactly what Lakers’ guard Malik Monk expressed his frustration on.

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The Lakers’ 3rd Quarter Woes

Following the loss to the Clippers, Malik Monk expressed his concerns on the Lakers 3rd quarter performances this season.

“We talk about it every day we’re together, why does it happen? And we don’t know. We’re tired of talking about it. We gotta figure it out,” said Monk frustratedly.

The Lakers have suffered on both the offensive and defensive end in the 3rd quarter of NBA games. Offensively, they rank 22nd in the league averaging just 26.7 points in the 3rd quarter. Additionally, the ‘Purple and Gold’ also have the 25th best defense in the 3rd quarter.

Among all games lost by all teams, the Lakers have the worst defense. They currently allow their opponents to score 31.4 points in the games they have lost. This was evident in the loss to the Clippers as the Lakers conceded 34 points in the 3rd quarter. On the flip side, they only allow 24.3 points in the 3rd quarter whenever they win.

In Conclusion

Clearly, the Lakers’ 3rd quarter defense seems to be a problem. This is preventing them from having the edge over their opponents. The 3rd quarter of a basketball game is always critical. It is the only window during the game where the opposition generally rests their best players for a good chunk of time, reserving them for the final period of play. If a team were to not perform well in the 3rd quarter, the opposition gains an advantage in the fourth quarter, especially because the fourth quarter is a do or die situation with potentially no more gameplay left after the buzzer sounds.

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