The Lakers are a bad team when everything is going well. When they're not, as has been the case in the opening quarters of the last three games including Wednesday's loss to Minnesota, it's hard even to call them an NBA team. Los Angeles missed all 10 of its three-point attempts in the first quarter, Wednesday. Against the Raptors Monday night, they were 0-12 in the opening quarter. All told, they're 1-33 from beyond the arc in the opening 12 minutes over their last three games. In related news, the Lakers have been down big in all three.
So what gives? Is it just more cosmic comedy to find ways to lose that seem to defy statistical possibilities? The cold spell is taking a major dent out of the team's confidence, even if (as was the case Wednesday) the Lakers don't pack it in. Morale, understandably, is obviously very low. Meanwhile, opposing teams are taking great joy in beating them down, though perhaps none more overtly than Minnesota on Wednesday.
Is there anything that can be done to help players regain some confidence, whether individually or as a group?
Finally, Karl Anthony Towns is on a serious hot streak, while Anthony Davis is on the sidelines. KAT isn't the defensive player Davis is, but he's a more versatile offensive force. Which is more valuable? Has Towns surpassed Davis in the "Which guy would you rather have?" rankings? In a season of disappointment for Davis, it feels like a much harder question to answer than it was in October.
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: The Lakers lose in statistically improbable ways, which seems to fit right into the general vibe of this season.
SEGMENT 2: The Lakers have a confidence problem. Is there anything that can be done to fix it?
SEGMENT 3: KAT vs. AD...
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