As the Los Angeles Lakers struggled to tread water while LeBron James and Rajon Rondo recovered from their respective injuries, it began to place the team under more pressure the later got into the season.
Even with both veterans back in the lineup, the Lakers haven’t been able to right the ship or generate much momentum. Monday’s loss to the L.A. Clippers was their third in a row and perhaps the most damaging to playoff odds.
The Lakers fell six games behind the Clippers for seventh place, and 5.5 back of the eighth-seeded San Antonio Spurs who hung on for a home win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.