A complete failure. That’s how to sum up the Lakers’ 2021/22 season, which won’t continue beyond this week.
Without LeBron James, still injured, the “Purple & Gold” have not been able to afford a reprieve in this nightmarish exercise. Pressured by the Spurs’ success with the Nuggets, acquired earlier in the night, teammates Russell Westbrook (28 points) and Anthony Davis (21 points, 13 rebounds) did not weigh very heavily in Phoenix. (121-110).
Carried by Devin Booker (32 points) and Deandre Ayton (22 points, 13 rebounds), the Suns therefore take the opportunity to win a record 63rd victory and once again put an end to the (disappointing) course of Los Angeles. All while unrolling their basketball as usual.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— End of route for Los Angeles. It is officially over hopes of “play-in”, and therefore of playoffs, of the Lakers. As in 2018/19 and 2020/21, the Lakers had a dark season in 2021/22 and the best thing that could happen to them was probably to be on vacation from April. Because with the victory of the Spurs at the Nuggets, defeat was forbidden for the “Purple & Gold”, if they wanted to continue dreaming of the Top 10 in the West. Problem, they bowed in large widths, confirming for good the failure of their trio James / Davis / Westbrook.
— Franchise record for Phoenix. It was only a matter of days before the Suns broke their single-season winning record. And it is finally against the Lakers, among their historical rivals and with whom a small rivalry seems to have been born, that Monty Williams’ men won their 63rd success of the season. Improving therefore their record of 62 victories, established twice, in 1992/93 then in 2004/05. Next step for the Arizona franchise: the Larry O’Brien trophy, next June.
— A pivotal third quarter. It’s not the first time this season that the Lakers have fallen back from the locker room. It is also not the first time this season that the Suns have built their victory at this point in the game. New illustration this night, with “Purple & Gold” overwhelmed defensively in front of all the ardor of the Devin Booker – Deandre Ayton duo, untenable from afar and up close. More skilful, more regular and more solid collectively, the players of Phoenix thus recited their ranges (35-22), to no longer be caught up afterwards. Bye, bye Los Angeles.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ The Booker–Ayton duo. Executioners of the Lakers during the 2021 playoffs, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton returned the cover in 2022. Not on a series of six games, but on a simple duel of the regular season, always synonymous with elimination for the Angelenos. Taking advantage of the “open-bar” defense of the Californian franchise, they enjoyed themselves throughout the evening, quickly gaining confidence in themselves, to then align the award-winning successes and in the paint. Without ever forcing their talent.
✅ The Westbrook–Davis duo. It’s hard to blame much of Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis on this one. Without LeBron James, they thus tried to carry the meager hopes of the Lakers today, being as aggressive as possible in attack, despite the big defense of the Suns. Except that, against a team so armed and in place, their only good matches were not enough to leave with anything other than a defeat of ten points. Now, it wouldn’t be surprising to see all three All-Stars resting for Los Angeles’ final three outings this season.
⛔ Los Angeles Season. Could it end otherwise? spoiler : no. As since the start of this 2021/22 fiscal year, the Lakers failed to show consistency over an entire game, offering good streaks for a good ten minutes, before exploding as soon as their opponent pressed the accelerator. The scenario of this meeting seemed almost written in advance, so accustomed are Frank Vogel’s men to these cracks over time. And the hardest part begins now for Californian leaders, who are about to experience a pivotal summer, after this horrible campaign…
THE FOLLOWING
Phoenix (63-16) : “back-to-back” at the Clippers, this Wednesday evening (04:00).
Los Angeles (31-48) : trip to Golden State, overnight from Thursday to Friday (04:00).
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