Lakers Legend Magic Johnson Perfectly Sums Up LeBron James and Co’s Misery: “Outworked and Outhustled”
After losing their 18th game this season, the Los Angeles Lakers are facing a newfound backlash. Wednesday’s match against the Miami Heat, with their overall score dropping below the 0.500 mark (and mind you, it is the first time they’ve reached this mark since November 10, 2023). Of their 12 last games, they’ve lost 9. Adding to their agony is not just fans but the Lakers’ legend, Magic Johnson too.
To add to the Lakers woes, we went 4 for 30 from the three point line and turned the ball over 22 times. 🤦🏿♂️ It was a disappointing home loss for Laker fans.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 4, 2024
In a separate tweet, he even called James and Co.’s performance “outworked and outhustled” against the Heat. Of course it hints at the Lakers continuing slump of late.
The Lakers definitely got outworked and outhustled by the Miami Heat tonight losing 110-96.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 4, 2024
Overall, it indeed was a messy game for the Lakers. They nearly broke their franchise record for the first-quarter turnover. James and Anthony Davis started off slow, though Davis did turn up the pace. He ended the gameplay with 29 points, 18 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks. While, on the other hand, James only had 12 points with 6 rebounds and 9 assists. Austin Reaves also slipped into the lineup, ending his gameplay with 24 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds. So, as a team, the LA Lakers just shot 4-30 from the 3-pointer line with James and Taurean Prince coming together for 0 makes.
In a way, Magic Johnson was right. The Lakers were indeed outworked and outhustled. It surely wasn’t a pretty game. They lacked their defenses throughout the night. Apart from Reaves and Davis, nobody was going at it from their team. Despite their performances and efforts, the Heat pumped themselves up during the last quarter and then there was no looking back.
The Miami Heat outscored the purple and gold 38-29 during their final minutes, sealing the tie with a major 24-points margin. Now, in the Western Conference, the LA Lakers dropped to 17-18, coming at the 11th spot, while the Heat is improving themselves with every match to 20-14 this season.
Lakers’ body language tonight reflected their team was right in the middle of a major slump. King James looking to the bench, shrugging it off after wasting possession in crucial minutes, with him ending it all up with a forced 3-pointer that he also missed later. It was a game that would make any Lakers fan or even their owners question the team’s path ahead since the trade deadlines are now almost a month away. So legends like Johnson aren’t wrong entirely. We all feel the pain he is feeling. The Lakers are thirsty for consistency. Their unraveled quest is loaded with injuries and missed points. Fans want consistency that’s wrapped in positive results for the purple and gold.
