Even though the Los Angeles Lakers lost their third straight game, the team again made it a tough night, this time against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The star of this game was Lou Williams who scored a career-high, 44 points.
The Thunder had beaten the Lakers by 35 and 40 points in the first two meeting so playing them down to the wire, on the second night of a back-to-back no less, was a great sign for the Lakers.
After the game, Williams spoke about why the Lakers were playing better as a team, noting that they have come to an important realization according to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Lou Williams on what the Lakers are doing better as a team: "I think we're realizing that one guy doesn't have to do everything."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) January 9, 2016
While most assumed the Lakers would struggle to make the playoffs this season, their lack of competitiveness was disheartening early in the season. Their play of late is more in line with what most would have hoped for as even though the Lakers may lose, they are fighting until the end and making things close.
Before this most recent three-game losing streak, the Lakers had actually won three straight for the first time since last year. All three of these losses, however, have been much closer games than earlier losses against these same teams.
The Lakers are a team who, while young, has a number of players capable of having a big game on any given night. It was Williams this game, but Kobe, Russell, Clarkson, and Randle have all had their moments this season. As players learn to trust each other, it will show on the court and the product should improve, as it has for this team.
