LeBron James in decline? On Lakers Star Shooting Trouble

Darwin Ham desperately calls his players.

Lakers coach Darwin Ham instructs his players in the last seconds after Monday’s loss.

(Allen J. Shaben/Los Angeles Times)

As the Lakers struggled to get stoppages in the fourth round as the Pacers cut their 17-point lead at 10 minutes, some problems resurfaced.

The Lakers, especially in the final two minutes, were unable to clear the ball as the Pacers dominated the boards, allowing for a second chance. And while Anthony Davis cited effort as a key part of working with glass, the Lakers’ final roster consisted of Austin Reeves, Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schroeder – not quite a big size. The two players the team counts on in terms of minutes on the wing are Lonnie Walker IV and Troy Brown Jr. were so underperforming that the Lakers remained small, even as Schroeder finished with the team’s worst minus-16 and Tyrese Haliburton tormented the Lakers defense.

Patrick Beverley, who was serving a three-game suspension for pushing DeAndre Ayton, would certainly have helped on the rebounds, but the Lakers’ lack of size and depth on the flanks was certainly a more important factor.

It’s part of Westbrook’s trading logic to return two eligible players (or more) for one, helping to balance the roster.

With the team struggling on both ends of the floor, the Lakers had no options.