The Los Angeles Lakers’ dismal 2023 campaign came to an end as they lost back-to-back away games against the Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans.
The Lakers have suffered a great deal; since winning the NBA’s first-ever in-season tournament, they have lost eight of their previous 11. The team’s defeat to the Pelicans on New Year’s Eve brought them down to.500 at 17–17.
LeBron James, who led all scorers with 34 points on 12-of-24 shooting, five rebounds, eight assists, and a block, was one of the few bright spots in the Pelicans defeat.
James talked about the Lakers’ frustration following the game, as reported by Spectrum SportsNet, about being a 500-man team heading into 2024:
Of course. Yet things are as they are. Our track record is what it is, so we must undoubtedly improve and figure it out.
The Lakers had a highly demanding schedule in December, with multiple back-to-backs and extended travel, including a trip to Las Vegas for the In-Season Tournament.
Moving forward, though, things become better for them as they play 10 of their 15 games at home in January, one away game against the Clippers in Los Angeles, and only one back-to-back at the conclusion of the month.
The Lakers should have a chance to improve after that, but James warned them not to relax just because they’re returning home.
“It can be beneficial in that it allows us to have fewer travel obligations. However, it might hurt in the sense that you start to feel at home because of how comfortable you are. Therefore, we must acknowledge that we are unable to unwind just because we are at home. Even though it feels great to be in your own bed, we still have to go out and compete. Teams will enter our facility with the intention of carrying out their on-the-road activities.
LeBron James being the Lakers’ main ball handler, in Anthony Davis’ opinion, is beneficial.
Darvin Ham has been experimenting with a larger group with LeBron as the sole ball handler in the Lakers starting lineup in light of the team’s recent problems. Despite the lackluster results, Davis thinks the Lakers will benefit from James having the ball in his hands more.
