Security personnel stand in front of a billboard on October 9, 2019, with a picture of Los Angeles Lakers basketball players outside a venue set up for fan events before an NBA China match between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, China. REUTERS / Aly songs / files
LOS ANGELES: This off-season could be a big change for the Los Angeles Lakers after their hopes of making the NBA play-offs were dashed after they lost 121-110 to the Sons in Phoenix on Tuesday.
The game marked the seventh consecutive defeat for the 31-48 squad after veteran guard Russell Westbrook was added to the tandem by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who went into the season with high expectations.
A heart-warming coming home story for Long Beach native and former league MVP Westbrook that quickly turned into a nightmare between the injuries of James and Davis that prevented Core from really finding a rhythm.
The trio have played 21 games together, trailing 11-10 in those outings, and Westbrook’s future with the team is now in doubt after posting the worst numbers of his career in purple and gold.
Asked if he would like to return next season, hoping to have more time on the court with James and Davis, the 33-year-old said he would.
“That’s the plan, but nothing is committed,” Westbrook told reporters.
“You have to take it one day at a time and play the cards that you have been dealt with.
Anthony Davis # 3 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks with Carmelo Anthony # 7 during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on April 05, 2022. Christian Petersen / Getty Images / AFP
“Yes, we want to see what it looks like in the 82-game season, but we’re not sure if that’s for sure. I hope we have the opportunity to do this in the future. “
The Lakers have been particularly bad since the February All-Star break and currently have 17 games under .500 with three contests remaining.
“Our goal was to win a championship,” said Davis, who has played just 40 games this season due to an ankle and knee injury.
“I felt we had the pieces but the injuries got in the way and that was the difference in our season.
“Even though we lost games where we were all on the floor, I think we were three great players who would have gotten out if they had logged more minutes together.”
Most expect the first change in the head coaching position, with Frank Vogel likely to be replaced by Utah jazz coach Queen Snyder.
“We brought honesty to the process, we just fell into an isolated season,” said Vogel, who led the team to a championship in the 2020 Coved-19 protected bubble.
“We are all extremely disappointed.”
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