Lakers suffer historic defeat at the hands of Joel Embiid, 76ers
The Los Angeles Lakers endured a significant defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, succumbing to a 138-94 loss, marking the fourth most lopsided defeat in franchise history.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James suffered the most significant loss of his NBA career on Monday night, falling 138-94 to the Philadelphia 76ers. Allow me to provide you with the necessary details:
With a record of 10-8, the Lakers have established themselves as a competitive force this season.
“Pretty good” falls far short of LeBron James’ standards, and it certainly doesn’t meet the high expectations of Lakers fans. They were thrilled to see their team reach the Western Conference Finals last year and were hopeful for continued growth. Monday night, they marked a new low when the Lakers suffered a devastating 44-point loss to Philadelphia, the biggest defeat of LeBron’s career. The Lakers’ performance suggests they are more suited for the play-in tournament than being a top contender.
We knew that the Lakers had to be immaculate before the season started if they wanted to be a formidable team in the West. LeBron has held up his part of that bargain, displaying his steadfast skills and playing at an All-NBA level as he nears his 39th birthday this month. The Lakers need Anthony Davis to step up and be the best player on the court every night, to take over the mantle of the star the Lakers are built around. While Davis has excelled defensively this season, his offensive performance has been more variable. Notably, he has veered away from his jump shot, with a mere 24.4% of his shots emerging from beyond 10 feet. Additionally, his shooting percentages on midrange shots (outside the paint but inside the arc) and 3-pointers stand at 17.6% and 30%, respectively.
In 14 out of 18 games, Los Angeles’ opponents have surpassed them in three-pointers made. In those 14 games, the Lakers have only managed a 6-8 record. The team’s struggles with 3-point shooting have persisted throughout the LeBron-Anthony Davis era, hindering their ability to rise in the Western Conference standings.
The Lakers are at a crossroads
Los Angeles will have a much-needed reset in its next game on Wednesday against the struggling Detroit Pistons, who hold a 2-15 record and are currently on a 14-game losing streak, in the first game of a back-to-back (followed by a game at Oklahoma City). However, this defeat will likely linger in the minds of the Lakers for a considerable amount of time - and potentially result in significant alterations to lineups and rotations.
The Storyline
On Monday, James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 66,300 minutes to become the NBA’s all-time minutes leader. Entering Monday, James averaged 25.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game on 55.9 percent shooting from the floor.
The Lakers suffered a stunning failure in what was considered one of the most significant tests in their first 20 games. L.A. was left devoid of any goodwill after the considerable shellacking. With seven wins in its previous nine games, the team had recently established itself as a force to be reckoned with.
The 44-point margin of defeat was tied for the fourth-largest in franchise history.
It has been a one-sided affair between the 76ers and the Lakers, with the former emerging victorious in seven straight games.
The Sixers completely dominated the game, causing head coach Darvin Ham to throw in the towel and replace his starters in the final quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Sixers outplayed the Lakers, scoring 40 points compared to the Lakers’ 14, even with Embiid on the bench.
In the NBA, even the most talented players have rough nights. Suffering a decisive defeat on the road against a formidable adversary is not inherently unprecedented. But this only heightened the concern for the Lakers’ performance against top-notch competition. Regarding records, the Sixers (12-5) are on par with the Orlando Magic, considered the most challenging team the Lakers have encountered. The Lakers’ ledger is marked by a growing number of losses to formidable opponents and victories over mostly average and inferior teams. In their first 18 games, their record against teams with a winning percentage of .500 or higher is 5-8, while they remain undefeated at 5-0 against teams below .500.
With Embiid, the reigning MVP, and Maxey, the breakout fourth-year guard, Philadelphia’s stars outshined the Lakers, scoring nearly double their points.
Embiid recorded his sixth career triple-double, outperforming Davis in points (30 to 17), rebounds (11 to 11), and assists (11 to 2). Maxey scored 31 points and had eight assists, leading all players. James scored 18 points and assisted five times but got no rebounds.
The Lakers gave up a season-high 22 3-pointers to the Sixers. In the first half, they scored a season-best 13, surpassing their average of 11.2. The Lakers made only 7 of 28 3-point attempts.
The Sixers outshot the Lakers from beyond the arc, making 15 more 3-pointers and attempting 18 more. Not only did Maxey make five shots, but Patrick Beverley and Marcus Morris Sr. also had an impressive game with four 3-pointers each, setting a season-high for themselves. Adding to the frustration, the Sixers outscored the Lakers by 13 from the free-throw line, the sound of the ball swishing through the net punctuating their dominance. Los Angeles faced insurmountable deficits in 3-point shots and free throws.
The Aftermath
This setback stands out among their struggles this season when teams like Denver, Boston, Milwaukee, or Philadelphia overshadowed the Lakers’ actual contender status. They hit their lowest point when they suffered three consecutive losses, dropping their record to 3-5. Los Angeles had three straight wins, including a notable fourth-quarter comeback in Phoenix, after a blowout loss to the Houston Rockets on the road.
This defeat has sparked concerns about the Lakers’ ability to compete at a high level this season.
Several areas warrant criticism, such as Anthony Davis’ inconsistency when facing top-tier big men, the team’s collective shooting difficulties, their team defense, and more.
The list of issues is limitless in a defensive sense, as players were consistently beaten in various situations, such as back cuts, one-on-one scenarios, ball screens, off-ball screens, and more.
The current personnel in Los Angeles is insufficient to attain a championship. However, the team’s knack for playing many close games and leveraging their veteran expertise to secure victories has fostered the false perception that their existing roster could be more satisfactory.
In addition, they suffered a setback in rebounding, being outmatched 48-32 and surrendering 15 offensive rebounds to the Sixers. The primary point of contention is the purported advantage that LA’s size poses against virtually every team in the league, including Philly.
Consequently, they are expected not to experience overwhelming disadvantages in rebounding, as it amplifies their shortcomings in shooting, limiting turnovers, and shot creation.
LA’s offense and defense were lacking, evident by their 17 turnovers compared to Philadelphia’s 5. A team that prides itself on defense and physicality should be concerned when they can only force five turnovers throughout the game, especially if they are also prone to turning the ball over frequently.
Additionally, the Lakers have been unable to stay healthy despite the need to do so. Despite adding depth this summer, the Lakers were without Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Cam Reddish, and Gabe Vincent on Monday night. The Lakers should have noticed those players’ physicality and defensive skills, which were crucial in their matchup against the 76ers.
LA has many issues that urgently need addressing - there’s no denying that. It is uncertain whether this type of defeat motivates Rob Pelinka to make a trade or if Darvin Ham adjusts his tactics to secure victories, but either way, this style of play will not be successful in crucial moments.
As the trade deadline looms, the Lakers might contemplate a bold move. One option is trading for Zach LaVine. However, this would mean adding another player who demands possession of the ball, lacks defensive prowess, and comes with a hefty price tag. They could count on improving internally. If this team will reach the heights of the last postseason again, much hard work lies ahead, no matter the path chosen.
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