Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register reports:
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Phil Jackson cited lack of focus. Kobe Bryant cited lack of energy. Pau Gasol cited lack of togetherness.
For a two-time defending NBA champion team, the Lakers sure are lacking some basic basketball ingredients.
The Memphis Grizzlies exposed the Lakers, 104-85, at Staples Center on Sunday night.
“Just about every category, we got outplayed,” Coach Jackson said of the Lakers (23-11).
The Lakers’ lack of teamwork was evident in their assist-to-turnover margin of 13 to 20. Memphis’ was 30-10.
Bryant tried to turn up the energy in the third quarter with his offensive attack, but there was considerable defensive slippage at the same time. The Grizzlies wound up with 28 fast-break points to the Lakers’ five, reflective of the Lakers’ worsening transition defense.
