The results haven’t gone the Lakers’ way during their current road trip and LeBron James and Anthony Davis are taking ownership of these losses.
The Lakers have struggled on the road this season. Los Angeles has a 5-7 record away from home and suffered its worst defeat of the season on Wednesday, falling to the Heat in Miami 134-93.
As the score indicates, the Lakers didn't put up much of a fight. Even the performances of the team's biggest stars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, ranged from mediocre to bad.
LeBron had a much better game than AD, with 29 points, eight assists and four rebounds. However, he still had five turnovers and participated in some rough defensive possessions.
Davis was flat-out awful. He only scored eight points on 3-14 shooting and looked disinterested and unbothered during long stretches of the game.
After the historic loss, both players took ownership of their role in the embarrassing result.
"I think it starts with individuals first," LeBron said. "All of us have to take accountability. It's great to see it on film. You address it right then and there and then go from there."
LeBron was much more aggressive on offense compared to recent games, scoring the first six points for the Lakers versus the Heat. Defensively, though, he still isn't getting back in transition every time and needs to close out to shooters.
The Lakers are asking more from LeBron than any player anywhere close to his age and that's rough, but it's also reality. If he can't help more on that side of the ball, it doesn't appear the Lakers are good enough to overcome that and more losses will come, especially against the best teams in the league.
AD was rough all around on Wednesday, but his lack of aggressiveness or execution was particularly concerning offensively. He didn't shy away from accountability postgame, though, and seemed confident the team would put it all together.
"I have the utmost confidence in this group and this coaching staff," Davis said. "But like I said, I, personally, think it just starts with me. If I play better then guys play better. I'm definitely taking accountability, especially the last couple games, just not being there for the team on the offensive end."
Losing by such large margins could certainly degrade team chemistry and make a bad situation worse. Davis is aware of this and, as the best player on the Lakers, understands that it starts and ends with him.
"Just got to stay together," Davis said. "Obviously, the team goes as I go and the last two games have been terrible shooting the basketball. Just got to be better individually to help the team. Guys are doing their parts and I'm not doing mine, which is tough for our team. I just have to play better individually on both ends.
“I hold myself to a higher standard and haven't been doing what I needed to do, especially offensively, for our team. Got to stay together. There's a ton of basketball left but tonight was not our style of basketball. It was embarrassing. We just got to get ready for Friday."
It's good that both star players and the head coach agree that accountability after this result is key.
Now, the words and the actions have to align. If, on Friday, they look uninterested or fold at the first moment of struggle against the Hawks in Atlanta, then these statements will no longer hold much weight.
The season's first quarter is over and the Lakers are in the same spot they've been in the past few years—floundering around .500 and struggling to earn wins. Will this year be any different, or are we officially entering a moment of insanity, expecting different results with the same personnel?
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.
