Yet another loss for the Los Angeles Lakers, and fans are starting to grow increasingly frustrated. So much so that many have called for the team to fire head coach Frank Vogel.
Their most recent loss came at the hands of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, where they attempted another heroic comeback but lost 106-100. They were down 16 by the end of the first quarter but slowly got back into the game. One thing is worthy of note, they have had one of their best third quarters this season.
The Lakers are currently 9-10, and Shaquille O'Neal is not happy with the mentality of the team. Speaking post-game on Inside The NBA, he said (4:20):
"They think because of the veterans they have, all the experience they have, they think that they can turn it on."
"But if you wanna have championship aspirations, this is the mentality period. Beat the teams you're supposed to beat, stay dominant at home, and stay above .500 on the road. You gotta have that from Day 1, from training camp. These guys are playing a lil bit too cool, a lil bit too lackadaisical, defense isn't there, and these youngsters are going at their head."
Evidently, the Lakers are struggling. They still have struggles figuring out the starters on the team at this stage of the competition.
O'Neal is a Lakers legend, winning three championships from 2000-2002. The Lakers came into the season as one of the favorites to win the championship. But so far, the former Laker has been disappointed with how they have approached the season.
The Lakers had to play without LeBron due to the suspension issued by the league for his role in the incident that took place at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday night. He is seen as the player that can save the team and help them go on a winning streak, but he has only featured in eight games for the Lakers out of a potential 19.
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