Frustration is mounting for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers after another loss dropped them under .500 for the first time since Nov. 10.
The Lakers fell 110-96 to the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. They have lost nine of 12 games since defeating the Indiana Pacers in the NBA In-Season Tournament Championship Game on Dec. 9.
James had one of his worst games of the season with 12 points on 6-of-18 shooting (0-of-6 from three-point range), though he did add nine assists and six rebounds. The 19-time All-Star didn’t attempt a free throw for the first time since Feb. 10, 2019.
Things got so bad fans there was an audible “Let’s go Heat” chant in Crypto.com Arena and James left the building without speaking to reporters.
LeBron James left without speaking to reporters tonight.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) January 4, 2024
The Lakers lose, 110-96, to Miami in a disjointed, dispirited night. They're 2-8 in their last 10 to fall under .500 at 17-18. AD 29p 18r 6a 5b 2s 5tos; Reaves 24p 8a; CWood 13p 8r; LeBron 12p on 6-of-18 9a 6r; Christie 14p 5r. A 'Let's Go Heat!' chant broke out in the final min
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 4, 2024
Lakers are the first team this season to shoot worse than 15 percent from three and have more than 20 turnovers.
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) January 4, 2024
The only real positive to takeaway from this result is Anthony Davis continues to play at an elite level. He finished with 29 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, five blocks and three steals in 43 minutes.
This was Davis’ second straight game with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. The Lakers have lost both of those games by an average of 17 points.
“Our attention to detail, it’s not good,” Davis said after the game. “It’s not high enough to win basketball games right now.”
While there’s not just one thing going wrong with the Lakers, the heat is increasing on head coach Darvin Ham and general manager Rob Pelinka among NBA fans because of where the team is at right now.
11th seed with a healthy LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Unbelievable.
— Ryan Rueda (@iDude14) January 4, 2024
17-18 record with the healthiest LeBron and AD have been since 2020 is absolutely embarrassing.
Jeanie, Rob, and Darvin should all be embarrassed by this garbage
— Josh 🍉 (@josh2saint) January 4, 2024
LeBron retiring with 4 rings isn’t he
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) January 4, 2024
I’ve seen 4 “trade LeBron” tweets from Lakers fans tonight.
— Calenta (@NBAPaint1) January 4, 2024
LeBron skipped post game media
AD and Reaves taking shots at Ham pic.twitter.com/mjxiXPpmhg
— 🎭 (@MaskedInLA) January 4, 2024
Darvin Ham looking for what’s stopping the Lakers from having consistency: https://t.co/aAMlPF0Keg pic.twitter.com/U4tDs5Mcjm
— The Pettiest Laker Fan 🤫 (@ThePettiestLA) January 4, 2024
Ham made his second significant change to the starting lineup in two weeks. After D’Angelo Russell was benched for Jarred Vanderbilt on Dec. 23, Vanderbilt was replaced in the starting five by Austin Reaves.
Reaves did play well with 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting and made two of the Lakers’ four three-pointers. But the offense as a whole remains a mess. They shot 42.2 percent overall and scored their third-fewest points in a game this season on Wednesday.
By virtue of the bottom teams in the Western Conference being so bad, the Lakers still own the final spot in the play-in tournament right now. They are percentage points ahead of the Golden State Warriors as the No. 10 seed.
But nothing about this version of the Lakers looks like any sort of threat to even get out of the play-in tournament if they manage to make it in. They can’t score because they can’t shoot, and if James or Davis have an off-night, there’s no hope for them to compete.
The Lakers have a day off to regroup before hosting the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday at 10 p.m. ET.
