Statistically, that could spell trouble for the Lakers’ NBA Finals hopes
The Los Angeles Lakers recently absorbed a stunning 111-89 loss to the Boston Celtics, a loss that highlighted both emotional and tactical vulnerabilities. While the game remained competitive through three quarters, Boston took complete control in the final frame, fueled by Jaylen Brown’s 32-point performance. The frustration in Los Angeles as a coach has reached a boiling point JJ Redick and players Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart were all rated technical errors due to contesting the trial.
Redick was particularly vocal about a missed goaltending call involving Celtics center Neemias Cueta, who allegedly reached through the rim to block LeBron James laying. Even Luka Dončićwho struggled with 25 points, noted with a sneer that the officiating was clearly problematic if even he wasn’t penalized the most.
This loss to their archrival brought a worrying trend to the fore for the 34-22 Lakers. According to Jovan Buha on H, Lakers they really struggled against teams with a .600 win% or better (top 10 teams on record).
They are 4-11 against them, with three of their wins coming in the first two weeks of the season (MIN twice and SAS once). 10 of the 11 losses were by double digits.
This lack of competitiveness against the league’s elite raises significant questions about their prime as champions, as they appear to be losing the “punch” necessary to trade blows with top talent.
In the middle of the fighting on the field, evening served as a moment of reflection for LeBron Jameswho watched the team unveil the statue to the legendary coach Pat Riley. James expressed his “greatest respect” for Riley, who he worked with during their time with the Miami Heat.
Acknowledging the “Showtime” architect’s enormous impact on the game as both a coach and executive, James noted that while it’s human nature to wonder “what could have been” about their shared past, he remains focused on the present.
As the Lakers move forward, they must find a way to translate that respect into results against top opponents if they hope to secure another banner.
2026-02-23 18:47:00
