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The drama continues to grow for the Los Angeles Lakers, as the team apparently left head coach Luke Walton behind at the Smoothie King Center after a 128-115 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night.
So this was interesting. I was talking to some SKC staffers I know as the Lakers’ team bus is pulling off. Suddenly, Luke Walton comes around the corner. Bus gone. It had to come back for the coach. Damn shame. pic.twitter.com/uy0HX7XYIS
— David Grubb (@DMGrubb) February 24, 2019
Now in his third season as head coach of the Lakers, Luke Walton has been the subject of immense scrutiny as the team stands at 29-30 and three games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
LeBron James was highly critical of his team following the loss, citing the inexperience of the roster and questioning the level of commitment of some of his teammates.
For his part, Walton was reportedly involved in a locker room dust-up earlier this month, an incident that likely led to the Lakers trading Michael Beasley just before the trade deadline.
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After signing James in free agency and hoping to establish themselves as contenders in the West, the Lakers struggled out of the gate.
Los Angeles was 11-9 in late-November before seemingly righting the ship, winning six of their next seven games. But after LeBron went down with an injury on Christmas Day in a win over the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers would lose five of their next six contests.
James would return just before the New Year, but the Lakers have gone just 2-5 since he was re-inserted into the lineup.
The Lakers are still without Lonzo Ball, who is dealing with a bone bruise in his left ankle and may not return until March. Los Angeles has struggled to guard on the defensive end as a result, and of their eight losses in his absence, seven have been by at least double digits.
