Something’s not quite right in Los Angeles. Not the record - the Lakers are sitting at 24-15, fifth in the West.
Not the talent - this roster is loaded with names who know how to win. But the vibe?
That’s where things get murky.
Watch the Lakers closely and the disconnect starts to reveal itself. It’s not always in the box score.
It’s in the missed rotations, the lack of urgency between possessions, the body language that doesn’t scream “we’re in this together.” It’s the kind of stuff that doesn’t always show up on film, but you can feel it - especially when the losses start stacking up.
And right now, the Lakers have dropped four of their last five, including a 135-117 blowout at the hands of Charlotte - a team they should be beating if they’re serious about contending in the West. That kind of loss doesn’t just sting, it raises eyebrows.
When effort dips and the defense falls apart, people start asking questions. And those questions got a lot louder on January 17.
That’s when former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins went on ESPN and didn’t hold back. He didn’t just call out the Lakers’ defense or their recent slide - he went deeper, pointing to a chemistry problem that he believes starts off the floor.
“That’s not a team, that’s a bunch of individuals,” Perkins said. “I’m willing to bet everything that I have that there is not a group chat with the Lakers.
I’m willing to bet there’s no team dinners on the road… that’s showing up to work, do your job, everybody go their own way. And that’s how they perform on the floor.”
It’s a bold statement, but it echoes what we’ve been seeing. The Lakers don’t look connected right now.
And that lack of cohesion is bleeding into their play - especially on the defensive end, where communication and trust are everything. You can have all the talent in the world, but if guys aren’t fighting for each other, rotating for each other, covering for each other, it shows.
Perkins believes the Lakers’ record is masking deeper issues. And he’s not wrong to suggest that talent alone is keeping them afloat.
But in a Western Conference that’s as deep and competitive as ever, that won’t be enough in the long run. Togetherness - or the lack of it - is becoming the story in L.A.
And it’s coming at a tough time. Heading into Saturday’s matchup with Portland, the Lakers are dealing with a battered frontcourt.
Luka Doncic has already been ruled out with left groin soreness, while centers DeAndre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes are both questionable. That leaves the Lakers staring down a thin rotation and potentially leaning on names like Maxi Kleber, Drew Timme, or small-ball lineups to patch things together.
That’s not ideal - especially when the team is already trying to steady itself after a rocky stretch. The pressure is rising, and fast.
The Lakers are still in the playoff mix, but the cracks are starting to show. And if they don’t find a way to reconnect - on and off the court - this season could start slipping away quicker than anyone expected.