Lakers look on bright side: Despite another loss, they keep fighting spirit

The Lakers claimed as a gaggle that their spirit has not been damaged as they battle to gather wins.

Even because the Lakers stubbled but once more Sunday in a 129-118 loss to Denver, as they performed but once more with out one in all their stars, and as their season heads towards the abyss, they’re sustaining hope.

Hope that the Lakers can break a six-game dropping streak. Hope that LeBron James can play Tuesday evening at Phoenix after the star missed Sunday’s sport due to soreness in his left ankle. Hope that each one will not be misplaced for the Lakers to assert the final spot within the NBA’s play-in match.

Their defeat to the Nuggets had all of the acquainted sounds.

The Lakers scored simply 24 factors within the fourth quarter; the Nuggets had 34. The Lakers shot 34.8% from the sector within the fourth quarter; the Nuggets shot 62.5%.

Anthony Davis performed by way of ache in his second straight sport again after lacking 18 due to a sprained proper foot.

“We fought laborious,” Davis stated after producing 28 factors, 9 rebounds and eight assists. “We all know the state of affairs that we’re in, particularly with dropping at present. It’s one other must-win, must-must win in Phoenix. A group that’s taking part in nicely but additionally will be beat.

“However the spirits are excessive. We’re not the one group that’s going to fold till it’s all the way in which over. We bought 4 video games left and our job is to attempt to exit and compete and win each a kind of.”

The Lakers, although, face a Suns group with one of the best document within the NBA at 62-16, the beginning of a closing four-game stretch of the season wherein Los Angeles will meet three groups with successful information.

The Lakers are the Eleventh-place group within the Western Convention, leaving them out of the play-in match except they’ll catch San Antonio, which elevated their lead over the Lakers to 2 video games. Because the Spurs maintain the season-series tiebreaker, L.A. can’t afford one other loss and has to hope for some San Antonio losses.

They’re 16 video games beneath .500 (31-47), displaying no indicators of reaching the promise they had been alleged to have when the season began.

But they haven’t been mathematically eradicated, and thus there’s cause for retaining the suitable spirit.

“I believe that’s the troublesome half, to be sincere, retaining all people collectively. Not saying that we’re not, however it may be a troublesome job of retaining all people collectively,” Carmelo Anthony stated. “Not saying that we’re not however it may be a troublesome job of retaining guys collectively proper now coming all the way down to the top of the season or the top of the stretch, understanding the state of affairs that we’re in.

”Guys can simply simply begin testing. We haven’t seen that — I do know I haven’t seen that from guys at the very least once I’m round, at apply, on the bus, on the aircraft. I haven’t seen anyone giving up, so it’s a sense that we by no means thought that we was going to expertise or will expertise however it’s right here and there’s nothing we are able to do at this level however look it within the face and embrace it.”

Lakers coach Frank Vogel stated his guys are competing “their asses off” and never giving up regardless of the circumstances.

Vogel was requested if he has a way of pleasure for a way the Lakers are hanging in there.

“It’s the proper phrase and what’s it like? It sucks,” Vogel stated. “ Sucks telling these guys after each sport, ‘I’m pleased with you. Good effort. We misplaced.’ So, it’s not enjoyable, however it might be worse.

“It’s simple to unravel. Our group has stayed collectively. They’re placing up the nice combat. Their angle has been great, by way of simply working collectively to get this factor proper. And it’s simply disappointing to return in to maintain saying we fell brief.”