LOS ANGELES — Regardless of what came beforehand or what’ll come afterwards — and the Lakers didn’t have muchtime to dwell on Monday’s lossto the Thunder sincethey host the SpursTuesday night — a matchup against the defending NBA champions will always be a measuring stick game in their quest to contend for a title.
Their blowout victory and narrow defeat in back-to-back games to the Thunder last April showed they had what it took to compete with, and beat, anyone when they’re focused because of their high-end talent.
The blowout defeat earlier this season in November in Oklahoma City, with the Lakers missing LeBron James but the Thunder being without Jalen Williams, showed the Lakers, at the time, they lacked the requisite physicality and energy to compete with a team on the Thunder’s level.
What lesson came from Monday’s defeat, which came with the Lakers being without Luka Doncic but the Thunder being without reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?
“That’s a championship team right there,”James said.“We’re not.”
A strong statement from James, especially considering he was asked what he saw the biggest gaps were between his team and the Thunder.
He elaborated on his sentiments.
“We can’t sustain energy and effort for 48 minutes, and they can,” James said. “That’s why they won the championship.”
The Lakers had the energy to take an eight-point lead in the third against the Thunder after trailing by as many as 14 points in the second.
But not enough to grab crucial late rebounds, with the Thunder scoring 11 second-chance points off four offensive rebounds in the fourth.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
