The Los Angeles Lakers are feeling the weight of January, and it's not just the schedule. Since January 7, they’ve dropped five of their last six games, with an average margin of defeat nearing seven points. That’s a tough stretch for any team, but it’s been especially brutal for a Lakers squad that’s been hit hard by injuries.
Austin Reaves has been sidelined for all six games, and it's not just him. LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Deandre Ayton, Jaxson Hayes, and Rui Hachimura have each missed time during this span. That kind of revolving door in the rotation makes it hard to build rhythm, especially when you're trying to keep pace in a competitive Western Conference.
Saturday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers was a clear example of how thin the Lakers are right now. Without Reaves, Dončić, Hayes, and Ayton, Los Angeles got hammered on the glass-Portland won the rebounding battle 42-27-and the Lakers never really found their footing in what turned into a 16-point loss.
LeBron James suited up for that one and nearly posted a triple-double-20 points, nine rebounds, eight assists-but his 6-for-16 shooting night reflected the kind of uneven performance we’ve seen from the team as a whole lately. After the game, LeBron was direct about where the Lakers stand and what needs to happen moving forward.
“We have to [figure it out],” James said via Spectrum SportsNet. “Because at the end of the day, no one is feeling sorry for us, nor are we looking for it. We have what’s available and we gotta go out there and play our game, play the way we want to play offensively and defensively and just try to right the ship until we get whole.”
That mindset is going to be tested quickly. The Lakers are back on the court Sunday night against a surging Toronto Raptors team that’s been one of the surprise stories of the season. Toronto currently sits fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 25-18 record, and they’ve been playing with a level of cohesion and energy that the Lakers are still searching for.
The stakes are rising in the West, too. With the Phoenix Suns breathing down their necks, the Lakers are just one loss away from slipping to the No. 7 seed.
That’s Play-In territory-something this group was hoping to avoid this season. If they want to stay in the top six and keep postseason control in their hands, they’ll need to start stacking wins, even if they’re not at full strength.
And while injuries have been the headline, officiating has also been a point of frustration. In Saturday’s loss, the Trail Blazers took 34 free throws-including a staggering 22 in the first quarter alone, which marked an NBA season high. After the game, both LeBron and head coach JJ Redick voiced concern over the inconsistency in how games are being called.
They weren’t blaming the loss on the officiating-let’s be clear about that-but their comments reflected a larger frustration that’s been simmering for a while. The Lakers feel like they’re adjusting to one style of officiating only to have the tone shift the next night. That kind of inconsistency makes it tough to build momentum, especially when you're already trying to patch holes in the lineup.
Bottom line: the Lakers are in a tough spot. Injuries are piling up, the schedule isn’t letting up, and the margin for error is shrinking fast.
But as LeBron said, no one’s handing out sympathy wins. If the Lakers are going to turn this around, they’ll need to do it the hard way-by grinding out wins, staying connected on both ends, and finding a way to weather the storm until reinforcements arrive.