Garbage time at Vivint Arena began with just over seven minutes to play in the fourth quarter, with Utah building on a commanding 19-point lead and the Lakers’ starters—what was left of them—looking gassed. After getting bludgeoned for 130 points by the Jazz on Friday, L.A.’s suddenly bad defense surrendered a season-high 139 in a 23-point rout.
Said Darvin Ham, “We’re not being who we are.”
Ten games in and the Lakers’ season is slipping away. They are 2–8 and in a free fall. Blame has shifted from lackluster shooting to an erratic Russell Westbrook to (currently) a defense that has been gashed for an average of 127 points during L.