The Phoenix Suns handed the Los Angeles Lakers a decisive defeat on Thursday night, raising concerns about the Lakers’ current state. They may not even be an NBA playoff contender with the way they’re playing.
While a single regular-season loss doesn’t necessarily signify a team’s overall performance, Charles Barkley expressed his apprehension about the Lakers during a segment of the NBA on TNT, stating, “The Lakers are in serious trouble.”
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This loss lowered the Lakers’ season record to 19-20, placing them at the 10th position in the highly competitive Western Conference. They find themselves just ahead of the Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies, with the Phoenix Suns and the Houston Rockets leading the way.
On paper, having LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the same team appears to be a recipe for success, but so far this season, the Lakers have struggled to find their groove. Their inability to string together a significant number of wins has resulted in their record hovering around .500.
Kenny Smith chimed in, highlighting that the Lakers seem to have the mentality of “wait and think they can turn it on” as the season progresses. Smith acknowledges that LeBron James and the Lakers have proven to be formidable in the playoffs, but their regular-season performance often leaves much to be desired.
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The NBA on TNT crew shares concerns about the team’s attitude at this point in the season. If they don’t tread carefully, they could slip out of playoff contention in the upcoming weeks, necessitating a frantic push towards the end of the year to contend for another championship title.
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