The Los Angeles Lakers just got humbled. Again. After an ugly 29-point blowout against the Milwaukee Bucks, the team had a golden opportunity to bounce back against the Chicago Bulls in the NBA.
To their advantage, this time LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves all suited up. Instead? The Lakers got torched 146-115, and it wasn’t just fans who were livid. Showtime Lakers legend Magic Johnson had seen enough, and he didn’t hold back.
The Lakers defense has been the backbone of their recent climb up the Western Conference standings, but you wouldn’t know it watching Saturday’s game. Chicago ran them out of Crypto.com Arena like it was an open gym session. Magic took to social media, ripping into the team’s lack of effort.
C’mon Lakers, where was the defense last night? There’s no way they should have allowed the Chicago Bulls to score 145 points, especially getting ready for the Playoffs!” Johnson posted on Twitter.
And honestly? He’s got a point. This was supposed to be a late-season push for the Lakers. They had a point to prove, imposing themselves as an offensive powerhouse. But instead, they looked disengaged, disorganized, and downright uninspired.
Icing on the cake? The timing. With only 12 games left in the season, the Lakers are still in the run for playoffs. But games like this? These are the losses that can derail a season.
The No. 4 spot in the Western Conference is far from secure for the Lakers. They’re just a half-game ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 5. One bad week could see them slipping fast, and with eight of their last 12 games on the road, things are about to get even tougher.
And the real problem? As Johnson pointed out very clearly in his outburst. The defensive effort of the Lakers.
The Lakers had one of the league’s top defenses just weeks ago, locking down opponents and fueling its rise in the standings. But that effort has been missing lately. The Lakers still have one of the best offensive trios in the game when James, Dončić, and Reaves are healthy, but the old saying holds true, “defense wins championships.”
If head coach JJ Redick’s squad doesn’t tighten things up immediately, they could fall out of the top four, making their playoff pathway tougher than it needs to be.
The Lakers have no time to feel sorry for themselves. They need to respond. Fast
