The Los Angeles Lakers will enter the All-Star break with back-to-back losses. In their last 10 games, they've only won three victories and now have a 28-29 record. LeBron James — the best player and leader of the team — was asked about whether or not his teammates have lost focus since the midseason break was so close.
For him, there's a bit of truth in that hypothesis. Per Harrison Faigen of SB Nation:
https://twitter.com/hmfaigen/status/1095527215888887808
In their last game before the All-Star break, the Lakers lost to the Atlanta Hawks, 117-113. It should be noted that the Hawks are one of the worst teams in the league right now with no hopes of qualifying for the playoffs. But in the game, it looked like the Lakers — who are expected to at least make it to the playoffs given their roster — struggled to execute properly against a lower-tier team.
They were unable to take advantage of the Hawks' lackluster defense, which ranks 27th in the league. It should've been an easy win for the purple and gold squad but they shot at mediocre clips of 43.2 percent from the field and 35 percent from downtown.
Many expected the Lakers to go back to their winning ways after James' return from a groin injury. But with the four-time MVP back in the lineup, the Lakers are just 2-3. Two of those losses were blowouts, including a 136-94 loss to the Indiana Pacers.
With their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the Lakers definitely need a moment to catch their breath. Their long-term future might depend on their performance after the All-Star break.
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