Lakers' Defense looking a little suspect after losing to the Kings, 136-122

Orlando- The Lakers' defense was not good enough to hold down the fort against the Sacramento Kings.

The Lakers' offense seemed to be out of sync against the Kings and the effort on the defensive side of the floor was non-existent. The Lakers had problems containing Bogdan Bogdanovic', who was giving them the business. Bogdanovic was getting after offensive boards, hitting mid-range jumpers, and taking advantage of the smaller defender that was guarding him. Even when the Lakers attempted to double Bogdanovic, Bogdanovic was making the right passes the open man and they were nailing the shots. The Kings were shooting around 56% for the game.

Anthony Davis did not play and LeBron James had 17 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds in 15 minutes of play. J.R. Smith and Dion Waiters played more minutes because Kyle Kuzma and Alex Caruso sat out of the game. Waiters had a cool 19 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds. Smith finished the game with 11 points, 2 assists, and 1 rebound. The Lakers turned the ball over 17 times and it turned into 14 fast breakpoints for the Kings.

After losing to the Kings, the Lakers should be concerned with how they played in the bubble. They have not been the team that we have seen in the first half of the season. Everyone looks out of sync and they need to find a spark off the bench that can help out Davis, James, and Kuzma. If somehow Portland pulls it off and becomes the eighth seed, the Lakers may be seeing themselves going to a game seven with the Portland Trailblazers in the first round of the playoffs.

A lot of people around the league are saying that the Lakers needed to show that they are the team to beat in the West and that has not happened in the bubble. They have struggled to find their stroke from behind the arc. Collectively, the Lakers are shooting around 45% from three-point strike, but most of the time they have been playing from behind. Whoever the Lakers face may cause some trouble for them.