Loss to Suns gives Lakers their worst start since 1957

November 05, 2014 in Sports

NBASunsVsLakers-041114The Los Angeles Lakers are off to their worst start since moving to the West Coast, and they’re inching toward an unwanted franchise record.

It’s a losing streak the Phoenix Suns have already contributed to, and they’ll get a chance to become repeat offenders Tuesday night in a visit to Staples Center.

After Saturday’s 127-104 loss at Golden State, the Lakers are 0-4 for the first time since starting 0-7 in 1957-58 as the Minneapolis Lakers. That team finished 19-53 for the lowest winning percentage (.264) in franchise history.

Kobe Bryant, shooting 41.2 percent with an NBA-worst plus-minus average of minus-19.0, wasn’t terribly pessimistic following the loss.

“Just stay the course,” said Bryant, who shot 12 of 28 and had 28 points. “We still have a lot of room for improvement, but we’re moving in the right direction.”

Center Jordan Hill has taken on more of the offensive load with back-to-back 23-point efforts on 69.0 percent shooting. The uptick comes after going 4 for 14 for 13 points through two games, including a six-point performance in Wednesday’s 119-99 loss in Phoenix.

Hill has been held to 6.8 points on 40.0 percent shooting in his last four games against the Suns.

“Kobe can’t do it by himself all the time,” Hill told the team’s official website. “So we need some guys to step it up offensively and defensively. I’m one of the guys, so I’m just gonna go out there and let (shots) go.”

Los Angeles’ notable newcomers aren’t doing a whole lot to help. Jeremy Lin is shooting 34.5 percent and went 0 for 6 with six points and five turnovers against the Warriors.

Carlos Boozer’s struggles continued with nine points and four rebounds. He’s shooting 37.5 percent in the last three games, including a four-point effort with eight turnovers against the Suns.

The Lakers’ losses have come by an average of 17.0 points, and they’re allowing a league-high 118.0 points per game.

Phoenix (2-1) narrowly bettered those averages in the season-opening win over the Lakers. It’s since beaten San Antonio 94-89 at home and lost 118-91 in Utah on Saturday.

The loss was a particularly big reality check for the guard trio of Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas with each scoring 10 points on a combined 11-for-35 shooting (31.4 percent).

Thomas is averaging a team-best 18.7 points after moving from Sacramento in July. It has all come in a reserve role, and his 38.1 points per 48 minutes is among the best in the league.

“We’ve got a lot of things we can do,” coach Jeff Hornacek told the team’s official website. “If somebody’s not playing well, we’ll give someone else a shot. Sometimes you’ve just got to understand maybe it’s not their night and they play less minutes. Some nights they’re rolling and we play them more.”

Thomas scored 23 points against the Lakers and is averaging 18.0 on 53.9 percent shooting in his last six games against them.

Bryant had his top offensive game thus far against the Suns, going 11 of 25 from the floor for 31 points.

The Suns have won five of the last six in the series but only twice in the past 15 meetings in Los Angeles, including the 2010 Western Conference finals.