4 HRS AGO - Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images The officials messed up a few crucial calls that could have helped the Lakers down the stretch of Wednesday’s game. Frank Vogel and Montrezl Harrell voiced their frustrations. If someone looked at the box score of Wednesday’s night game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings, they’d probably come to the conclusion that the Lakers simply didn’t have enough talent available to upset the Kings on the road, and to an extent they’d be correct. Not only were the Lakers missing three starters in LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Marc Gasol, but they were also missing a key reserve in Alex Caruso. The Kings went into the game with a handful of names on their injury report as well, but they had all of their regular starters available. Still, there was one other major factor in the Lakers’ loss to the Kings on Wednesday night, though, and that was the officiating. Now I know what you’re probably thinking: are Lakers fans really in any Collapse

7 HRS AGO - Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images The Lakers nearly forced overtime against the Kings, despite playing without three starters and Alex Caruso. If you can believe it, the Los Angeles Lakers are officially finished with the first half of their regular season schedule after losing to the Sacramento Kings 123-120 on Wednesday. Both teams came into Wednesday night’s game a little banged up, but the Kings had all of their regular starters available. The Lakers couldn’t say the same with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Marc Gasol all sidelined, in addition to key reserve Alex Caruso. Still, both teams weren’t at full strength, so the fact that the game was the least bit entertaining is a win in and of itself. Unfortunately, wins for the fans don’t count as wins for the team. Despite a few a starter-worthy performers from their role players — Kyle Kuzma and Dennis Schröder combined for 53 points — the Lakers weren’t able to hand the Kings their 11th loss in 12 games. They Collapse

17 HRS AGO - The Los Angeles Lakers need well-documented help at the center position. It has been outlined all season that the Lakers could use the traditional rim-protector/rebounder behind Marc Gasol, who has been good defensively but not very good offensively. Personally, I have warned of the possibility of Gasol being hurt or getting into foul trouble early […] How the Los Angeles Lakers can trade for JaVale McGee - Lake Show Life - Lake Show Life - Los Angeles Lakers News and Fan Community Collapse

1 DAY AGO - LeBron James has accepted some load management for the first time this season. He has played in every previous Lakers game before Wednesday’s game against the Kings. The Lakers were already missing Anthony Davis (Achilles and calf), Marc Gasol (health and safety protocols) and Kyle Kuzma (right heel contusion) in their loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, and while Gasol and Kuzma’s statuses for Wednesday’s game vs. the Sacramento Kings are still up in the air, and least one player won’t be joining whatever Lakers are in the lineup for that one: LeBron James, who is finally sitting for some load management. Shams Charania of The Athletic broke the story: Lakers’ LeBron James will sit out his first game of the season on Wednesday at the Sacramento Kings on the back-to-back, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The absence won’t impact his All-Star Game appearance Sunday in Atlanta.— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 3, 2021 This is a sensible move for James and the Lakers. The Collapse

1 DAY AGO - The Los Angeles Lakers played an important game that will go far in fully covering the stench of the four-game losing streak last week. A very entertaining game between two of the Western Conferences best teams was marred by quick whistles by referees. The Los Angeles Lakers had a test coming into the matchup with […] Los Angeles Lakers lose a foul fest against the Phoenix Suns - Lake Show Life - Lake Show Life - Los Angeles Lakers News and Fan Community Collapse

1 DAY AGO - The Los Angeles Lakers are squaring off against the Phoenix Suns for the first time in the regular season on Tuesday night. The two teams are in a similar position record-wise, with the Lakers owning a 24-11 record while the Suns are 22-11. The Lakers are currently second in the Western Conference but a loss […] Los Angeles Lakers: Betting picks in first matchup vs. Phoenix Suns - Lake Show Life - Lake Show Life - Los Angeles Lakers News and Fan Community Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images For all the panicking about how many minutes LeBron James is playing for the Lakers, the stats paint a different story. LeBron James, at the age of 36, should probably not be leading the NBA in minutes. The good news is that — despite panicked tweets from Lakers fans that might have made you think otherwise — he is not. James actually only ranks 21st in the NBA in minutes per game with 34.5, which is (narrowly) the lowest average of his career (he played 34.6 last season). However, the idea that the Lakers should use James at least slightly less isn’t a crazy one. Over the last 15 games, he’s played 36.3 minutes per game, but that number also makes it clear that the idea that he’s played some unsustainable amount since Davis went down is off. Over the seven games since Davis has been out, James has actually played a tad fewer minutes (34.2) than his season average. Those are at least at a couple of reasons not to have too much Collapse

2 DAYS AGO - The Los Angeles Lakers are currently in second place in the Western Conference and are still the favorites to win the NBA Championship with a healthy team. However, there is more challenges ahead that may not have been expected before the season. The Brooklyn Nets are even better than they were when the season started […] Why the Los Angeles Lakers should pursue a trade for Nemanja Bjelica - Lake Show Life - Lake Show Life - Los Angeles Lakers News and Fan Community Collapse

2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images Alex Caruso could double the money he’s made over the last two years in the first year of his next contract. In December, the Los Angeles Lakers signed Kyle Kuzma to a three-year, $40 million contract extension to avoid having to go into restricted free agency with the 25-year-old forward. They’re expected to try and do the same with Dennis Schröder, who will enter unrestricted free agency this summer if he doesn’t sign an extension before the 2021 offseason. Unfortunately, the Lakers don’t have the same luxury with Alex Caruso, who signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Lakers in the summer of 2019. Had he signed for three or more years, they would have been allowed to negotiate a contract extension with him before the 2021 offseason. Instead, they can’t, and will have to compete with other teams for Caruso’s services in free agency. According to a report from Brian Windhorst of ESPN, he won’t come cheap: As an Collapse