The Lakers struggled to win games after the trade deadline.
With the NBA playfs starting tomorrow, you’ll probably notice the absence LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite being ranked fourth in the Western Conference at Christmas, the team quickly slipped down the standings, all the way into tenth place. One the theories as to why this happened is because the lack chemistry that was created when rumors an Anthony Davis trade to the Lakers, plagued the team’s young stars. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is one the players on the team who believes this to be true.
“At the trade deadline, everybody kind lost themselves,” Caldwell-Pope said, ESPN. “That’s all they were worried about. … And I feel like after that, everybody kind relaxed calmed down and just started playing basketball and not worrying about the outside talk.”
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Tyson Chandler also commented on the team’s play this season, saying a lot it could be chalked up to the fact that the team wasn’t healthy.
“It was injuries and then the trade rumors,” Chandler said. “I wouldn’t be honest if I was sitting up here not saying the same. It was one the huge factors in the season. The injuries were tough for us because we were already a young unit. … Having those injuries and not being able to get used to one another I think really affected us.”
The Lakers finished the season with a record 37-45 and finished 10th in the Western Conference.