Debacle for the Lakers: In front of their own audience, LeBron James and Co. received a violent rubdown from the Phoenix Suns. While Chris Paul is making history, LA is making negative headlines aside from the sporting side – including tussling on the bench.
Los Angeles Lakers (0-2) Phoenix Suns (1-1) 105:115 (BOXSCORE)
“The Los Angeles Lakers have a team problem and a basketball problem.” That was the conclusion of the franchise legend Magic Johnson shortly after the second bankruptcy in the second game of the season. On the one hand, he was alluding to a largely defeated team in purple-and-gold, on the other hand, to an apparently already enormously high level of frustration in the ranks of the Lakers as well as internal disputes.
From a Lakers point of view, the end result was still flattering thanks to a late run, when the game was actually decided long ago. The guests from the Arizona desert took control of the game in the second quarter and set themselves apart by up to 32 points after the break.
Ultimately, the 25 points from LeBron James (8/18 FG, 5/9 threesomes, plus 5 assists with 5 turnovers) or the double-double from Anthony Davis (22 and 14 rebounds) did little to prevent the debacle. Russell Westbrook scratched a triple-double (15, 11 rebounds and 9 assists at 6/15 FG), Carmelo Anthony contributed 16 points.
The Lakers made headlines less athletically, but rather with a scuffle on their own bench. Dwight Howard and AD clashed during a break and had to be separated from teammates. “There are no problems between us,” Howard downplayed the scene after the game. “He’s my brother. We had a disagreement about something that happened on the court and we’re both just very passionate.”
Los Angeles Lakers: A lot of frustration at LeBron James and Co.
Davis also said after the game that the matter was settled. “We left it in the dressing room at halftime,” said the Big Man, and head coach Frank Vogel added: “Something like this happens from time to time,” said Vogel about the dispute, even if he thought it was the physical component been too much. “The boys love each other. But I prefer that all of this is important to them.”
Still, there seems to be a lot of frustration in LA shortly after the start of the season. In one scene in the third quarter, LeBron stopped after a successful defensive action in his own half and waited for his colleagues at the other end of the court to complete the move. The Lakers also expressed dissatisfaction with the referees’ decisions on several occasions.
There was also an incident with a fan and Rajon Rondo when the spectator was sitting on the edge of the field slapped the Lakers star’s hand at a discussion. The fan was then expelled from the hall.
The Lakers started the game properly. Westbrook already had as many points in his account after the first quarter as in his weak debut (8) and the three fell at LeBron or Kent Bazemore. In the second section, however, the dominance of the Suns in the zone came into play. Phoenix scored a total of 52 points in the Painted Area – the Lakers just 26.
Suns dominate the Lakers – Chris Paul makes history
The guests, led by Chris Paul (23 points and 14 assists), set themselves apart for the first time with a double-digit lead. Phoenix shouldn’t give it away either. After the break, the Suns continued to attack the zone, hardly anything worked in the weak Lakers offense and the gap continued to grow. By the end of the third quarter, the game was decided.
Three players cracked the 20-point mark for the guests. In addition to CP3, this was also achieved by Devin Booker (22), who in the third quarter took revenge on Westbrook for his similar action in the initial phase with the “Rock-the-Baby” celebration, and Mikal Bridges (21, 8/11 FG). Deandre Ayton scored 8 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.
By the way, Paul secured an entry in the Association’s history books. With a free throw in the second quarter, Point God cracked the 20,000-point barrier. This makes him the first player in NBA history with 20,000 points and 10,000 assists. After the botched start to the season against the Nuggets, Phoenix secured their first win in 2021/22.
– .
