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[Saba Sports News] The Los Angeles Lakers have fallen below a .500 winning percentage once more, a situation that LeBron James can’t easily rationalize this time. On Wednesday, the Lakers faced another defeat, losing at home to the Miami Heat with a significant margin of 110-96. This loss was notable as the Heat were without key players like Jimmy Butler and Caleb Martin due to injuries.
James, evidently frustrated, chose not to engage with the press post-game. Coincidentally, an old statement he made to the media after a loss to the New York Knicks on December 18th resurfaced. In that interview, James had dismissed the Lakers’ poor form as a sort of hangover from the In-Season Tournament, also pointing out the Indiana Pacers’ similar struggle after the tournament.
However, the situation has changed since James’ December comments. The Pacers have recovered, achieving a 6-2 record in their last eight games, which includes a current five-game winning streak with victories against playoff-contending teams like the Knicks, Bucks, and Rockets. In contrast, the Lakers’ performance has deteriorated, going 2-6 since December 18 and a dismal 3-9 overall post-tournament, rendering James’ previous explanation less convincing.
Now in January, with a 17-18 record, the Lakers are at a crucial point. Their performance is poor on both offense and defense, and there are growing concerns that coach Darvin Ham might be losing control of the team. The coming weeks will be critical as the Lakers attempt to find solutions and improve their standing before the February 8 trade deadline.