Lakers News: Acting Head Coach Frustrated With Team's Wasting Of LeBron James' Efforts

David Fizdale, the acting head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, feels that the team is wasting LeBron James’ efforts to bring them a victory amidst their five-game losing streak.

“I’m kicking myself in the head because he’s giving me incredible effort, I’m trying to figure out ways to get him over the hump with that effort. I hate that it’s wasted on losses. But it’s spectacular and I hate that it’s wasted on losses. To watch it and be a part of it, even though those games are turning into L’s, I’ve never seen anything like this guy,” said Fizdale via Lakers Nation.

Two seasons removed from their inspiring NBA title run during the 2020 Bubble, the Lakers are slumping hard to the tune of a five-game losing streak.

The 17-time All-Star has been hard carrying the Lakers during the losing streak with averages of 31.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks in over 36.7 minutes of game time for an overall plus/minus of -5.2.

When he sits though, the Lakers start playing terribly.

In their Christmas day loss to the Brooklyn Nets, James sat for only eight minutes on the bench and the Nets outscored the Lakers by 16 points.

Acquiring Russell Westbrook during the offseason was a move that was supposed to help carry the load off of James on most possessions in order to conserve the 36-year-old’s energy throughout most of the game.

During the five-game slump, Westbrook has failed to prove his value to the Lakers squad bereft of depth, punctuated by his triple-double on 4-of-20 shooting in the loss to the Nets in which he was a -23.

Having their co-star Anthony Davis sprain his MCL against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 17 further hampered the Lakers’ abilities to regain some sense of momentum this season.

“It’s also a time where I got probably more guys on the court that don’t know each other right now, and offensively we probably get a little stagnant. Defensively we’re not totally connected, and teams are seizing on that unfamiliarity, I think,” Fizdale stated.

Thankfully, Westbrook and James’ twin triple-doubles snapped the Lakers’ losing streak after a hard-fought 132-123 victory against the Houston Rockets.

The Lakers played the pair heavy minutes, but Malik Monk and Carmelo Anthony also deserved their flowers for combining for 49 points.

James’ 30-point outbursts in the past five games have also given him the distinction of being the only player to do such a feat at 36 years old.

With the taste of victory back on their tongues, the Lakers look to continue their winning ways against the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday, December 30.