Lakers fall to the Phoenix Suns in six games, putting their season to an end.
The reigning 2020 NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers season abruptly came to an end tonight, losing to the Suns in six games with a 113–100 defeat tonight. Tonight’s season-ending playoff loss capped off one of the strangest seasons in NBA history, with the Lakers having the shortest off-season in NBA history at 71 days. The shortened off-season affected this Lakers team all season, consistently dealing with injuries week to week throughout the year with key players, showcasing in the final games of the year as the Lakers lost Anthony Davis for half of the games in the first round. Head coach Frank Vogel spoke on the battles the team had to face with injuries, explaining "Ultimately, the injuries that we faced was too much." Overall Vogel was "proud" of them battling through the unfortunate circumstances.
You have to tip your hat off to the Phoenix Suns, who took advantage of a short-handed Lakers team and did what they had to do. Perennial all-star Devin Booker completely caught fire in tonight’s game, going 6 for 6 from three in the first quarter. Booker ended the night with a game-high 47 points on 15 of 22 (68%) from the field and an astonishing 8 for 10 (80%) from the three-point arc. Booker’s hot night from three gave energy to the rest of the players on Phoenix, as they shot a whopping 51.4% from deep, hitting 18 threes on 18 of 35 shooting.
Coming into the first round of the playoffs, LeBron James wasn’t 100% healed from his high ankle sprain, showing throughout the series. In a do-or-die elimination game, James finished with 29 points on 3 of 10 shooting from three and 11 of 26 (42%) shooting overall. James was also able to add 9 rebounds and 7 assists in 41 minutes played in tonight’s loss. After tonight’s playoff loss, James spoke on the recap and injury-plagued season, saying:
“The one thing that bothers me more than anything is we never got to see our full team.”
James also mentioned how this much-needed off-season rest will “work wonders.” As the Lakers came off the shortest off-season in NBA history for any team in league history. also mentioning that the shortened season was “draining” on all levels. “Mentally draining.”
With a nagging groin injury suffered in Game 3, Anthony Davis tried to battle back pain to try and go out in tonight’s elimination game. Davis’ groin injury was too much for the Lakers all-star, not being able to finish the first quarter, playing just 5 minutes before re-aggravating his groin contesting a shot attempt from Devin Booker.
It has been highlighted all season if Dennis Schröder is going to resign with the Lakers organization this off-season if the money is right on both ends. Schröder had a roller-coaster performance in the first-round series to the Suns, having outings of 20 plus points in multiple games and also a scoreless game. In tonight’s loss, Schröder finished with 20 points on 6 of 14 (42%) from the field in 37 minutes of action. After the game Schroder had some words about the possibility of re-signing with the Lakers this off-season, saying:
“I’m going to work my ass off to come back here and give everything because we owe the fans more. I’m going to work my ass off this summer, come back and be me, I want to be here and win a championship.”
Dennis Schröder also gave high praise to both LeBron James and Anthony Davis, saying they were the two best players in the world, calling LeBron “the best player to ever play the game, probably.”
With all the emotions of frustration toward the way the season ended for the Lakers, pledged with injuries throughout the season, this Lakers team gave the fans one hell of an electric season, coming off their 17th championship and representing this prestigious franchise. There is no question this Lakers team can get the pieces needed for the Lakers big two (LeBron James and Anthony Davis) and come back stronger than ever to hoist that Larry O'Brien trophy again.
I want to thank everyone who followed me throughout the Lakers season on my column “Lakers FastBreak.” It was one strange year, but we all came out of it better and stronger people.