“We need these difficult times”

As if the Los Angeles Lakers weren’t struggling enough already, losing two starters heading into Wednesday’s game against the Utah Jazz, a 114-89 loss has only highlighted the rut in which the champions find themselves. title.

With Anthony Davis (right leg) and Dennis Schroder (health and safety protocols) sidelined, the Jazz have jumped all over the Lakers. They led with as many as 29 points giving Los Angeles their fourth straight loss and fifth in their last six games since Davis worsened his tendinosis and suffered from a calf strain a week and a half ago.

Utah has won 15 straight home wins.

“They’re playing like the best team in the league right now,” said Lakers coach Frank Vogel of Utah, who shot 22 for 48 of 3 in the rout.

And the Lakers, still third in the Western Conference standings at 22-11, aren’t playing as far as their record suggests.

LA followed Utah’s pace in the first quarter at Vivint Arena, trailing 24-23 after one, before the Jazz erupted in the second and third quarters, passing the Lakers 66-41 to open the game.

Markieff Morris, who started in the frontcourt against Utah’s Rudy Gobert with Davis out, said the Lakers’ current struggles were a test of reality the team needed.

“[I] think from the start, we’ve gained a lot with talent and we have a lot of actors who know their roles. Now with these guys – without AD, in particular – we need the guys to do different things, ”Morris said after finishing with season highs in points (12) and rebounds (9). “It’s new to all of us. . But we need it. If you ask me, we need it. Because you never know with injuries. You never know in the playoffs. We never know. We need these difficult times to really find out who we really are. “

The four-game losing streak is the longest the Lakers have had in the past two seasons, but Morris said it was difficult to compare this season’s squad to last year due to the renewal of the list and the challenges that accompany the compacted coronavirus schedule.

“It’s the most basketball I have ever played in my life – this season and last season combined,” he said. “It’s an incredible amount of basketball that we all play. Mentally it gets exhausting. Especially when you lose.”

The Lakers have four more games before the All-Star break, the next three of those games – at home against Portland, Golden State and Phoenix – all against teams with record wins.

“It’s not supposed to click right away,” Morris said. “It’s supposed to take time. It’s supposed to challenge us. It’s supposed to feel like our backs are against the wall. And everyone needs this. It’ll bring out your real self when you have to. fight when your back is against the wall when you lose a few games. It will bring out your true self. “

LeBron James, whose teams are 1 for 3 in repeat title bids so far in his career, has remained pragmatic, not using missing LA players as an excuse, but matching the fact that the season will not derail. not because of February struggles.

“It’s a tough time for us,” said James after scoring 19 points in 28 minutes. “You know that won’t define who we will be for the rest of the season and in the long term. That’s for sure.”

When asked if the losses could help the renovated LA locker room learn from each other, he agreed.

“Experience is always the best teacher in life,” said James. “You know, for us to get through this now, I think it’s going to benefit our team hugely.”

As with any team with back-to-back championship aspirations, Morris kept an eye on the future when assessing Wednesday’s result.

“We see the Jazz, we know they beat our asses tonight,” he said. “But in the playoffs it’s a different story.”