True Lakers Fans

(19-38) at (17-39)

Wednesday, February 15, 2017, 6:00 PM PDT
Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ

Referees: Rodney Mott (#71), Mark Ayotte (#56), Karl Lane (#77)

Line: Suns -4





GAME PREVIEW: LAKERS AT SUNS

BY NBA.COM

The unglamorous title of Western Conference's losingest team in the first half of the season will be on the line Wednesday night when the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns close out the pre-All-Star Game portion of the schedule at the Talking Stick Resort Arena.

The Lakers (19-38) and Suns (17-39) will take the West's two worst records into their third meeting of the season. The teams split the first two, with both games having been played in Los Angeles.

Both teams might be losing regularly, but it is clear from their most recent outings that they haven't given up.

The Lakers rallied from a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to tie the Sacramento Kings late in an eventual 97-96 home defeat Tuesday night.

Los Angeles had won two of its previous three.

"Whether you're the Golden State Warriors or Brooklyn, every team in between, (a priority now) is keeping your guys focused," first-year Lakers coach Luke Walton said before Tuesday's loss. "This part of the season, it's been long, it's been hard, everyone's tired. Guys are banged up. We're aware of that. We talk about it, and we'll continue to do our best to stay focused."

That focus not only helped rally the Lakers from what appeared to be a sure defeat early in the fourth quarter Tuesday night, but it also gave them a chance to win on a buzzer-beating 3-point attempt by Lou Williams.

The super-sub, who hit two key 3-pointers in the comeback, misfired on a potential game-winner.

A defeat Wednesday night would give the Lakers the same number of losses as the Suns at the break. If it is any consolation, Los Angeles already is significantly better off than last season at midseason, when the Lakers had compiled an 11-44 mark.

The Suns were 14-40 at All-Star time a year ago, and they would reach the 40-loss mark at the break for the second straight season with another setback Wednesday.

Like the Lakers, the Suns' previous defeat was a little hard to swallow.

Phoenix led the New Orleans Pelicans 108-107 at home with 1:12 remaining Monday night, only to fail to score again in a 110-108 loss. The Suns missed three shots to force a possible overtime in the final 24 seconds.

Eric Bledsoe, who scored 37 points in the loss, had the first of the three misses. P.J. Tucker subsequently grabbed his 15th and 16th rebounds of the night, but he couldn't convert short-range follow shots after either as time ran out.

When it was over, Suns coach Earl Watson -- like Walton in defeat one night later -- applauded the effort.

"Amazing hustle, amazing play," Watson said of Tucker's sequence. "I thought he got fouled twice, but I'm not the referee. He kept the ball in play; he gave us fight all the way to the end."

Bledsoe enjoyed a big game two days after he was given a healthy night off in Houston. He started each of Phoenix's first 54 games. The point guard shot just 22 of 66 in his previous five games, prompting the breather.

http://www.nba.com/games/20170215/LALPHX#/preview

At this point I just want to see growth and better chemistry. I am worried about Russell's knee, he looked hobbled last night.

3Peatkb24 wrote:At this point I just want to see growth and better chemistry. I am worried about Russell's knee, he looked hobbled last night.

No question about it. I think the one positive is that he is working on becoming a better playmaker in game situations. One of the things that he has improved on is organizing the offense. It is subtle, but I notice that he is becoming moer of a leader out there. But yes, I am very concerned about his knee and if it requires surgery, I would rather him sit out the rest of the season so he can work as hard as possible this summer.

KobeMVP888 wrote:

3Peatkb24 wrote:At this point I just want to see growth and better chemistry. I am worried about Russell's knee, he looked hobbled last night.

No question about it. I think the one positive is that he is working on becoming a better playmaker in game situations. One of the things that he has improved on is organizing the offense. It is subtle, but I notice that he is becoming moer of a leader out there. But yes, I am very concerned about his knee and if it requires surgery, I would rather him sit out the rest of the season so he can work as hard as possible this summer.

If it needs surgery I agree at this point so he can be 100% next season. I just hope it wont be a lingering thing in the future.

So far pretty lackluster stuff. Suns up 50-34, oh well. Russell struggling with 2 Points.

That was one of the worst half's of Basketball I have seen in a while considering the opponent. Down 68-48 against a crappy Suns team. Nothing could top the Mavs game earlier in the year but this is bad. Russell may need to shut it down and rest or get surgery on his knee (if needed of course).

Lakers down 20 at the half


Lakers 48
Suns 68

3Peatkb24 wrote:That was one of the worst half's of Basketball I have seen in a while considering the opponent. Down 68-48 against a crappy Suns team. Nothing could top the Mavs game earlier in the year but this is bad. Russell may need to shut it down and rest or get surgery on his knee (if needed of course).

They're not playing defense at all. This is bad!!

Lakers4Life wrote:

3Peatkb24 wrote:That was one of the worst half's of Basketball I have seen in a while considering the opponent. Down 68-48 against a crappy Suns team. Nothing could top the Mavs game earlier in the year but this is bad. Russell may need to shut it down and rest or get surgery on his knee (if needed of course).

They're not playing defense at all. This is bad!!

Yeah I hate watching us play like this. Man we have to do something in the future to get better. This is awful.

I am done getting upset about this stuff. Actually been over it since our terrible December when I realized that 10-10 start was a fluke. How can anyone justify being down 85-57 to the Suns? We have everyone playing as well and down 28. This product just reeks. I am not going to rant but this is unacceptable.

A game like this is concerning indeed, especially after getting blown out by Detroit a few games ago just like this. And the talk is that we're shopping Lou Williams for what? We need to be patient, but our future "stars" play like they are completely out of their league against less than average NBA players.

The Phoenix announcers just said, "I'm amazed that Luke Walton continues to stay with this group. They look lost."

KobeMVP888 wrote:A game like this is concerning indeed, especially after getting blown out by Detroit a few games ago just like this. And the talk is that we're shopping Lou Williams for what? We need to be patient, but our future "stars" play like they are completely out of their league against less than average NBA players.

It is what it is, I am grateful with what we did in the 80's with Magic/Kareem/Worthy and with what we had with Kobe/Shaq, Kobe/Pau recently so I just keep tolerating this bullshit. We won 10 Championships since 1980 so I tolerate this. I just cant believe our franchise can be this bad for 5 years now. Eventhough we didn't win a Championship in the 90's we were at least competitive. We went to the Finals in 1991, made a nice Playoff run in 1995 and once Shaq came to the team we were entertaining and competitive from 1997-1999. This stuff we are watching now and have watched since 2013 is just Bad. We haven't won a Playoff series since the 2012 Playoffs, that is scary to think about.

I'd only consider trading Sweet Lou Williams to Boston for that #1 pick they're going to get from Brooklyn. I don't get why they'd even consider trading him for a #25-#30 pick. He has real value. I don't really think we should trade him at all