The Lakers took on the New York Knicks Tuesday night and defeated them, 127-96.
Los Angeles were dominant throughout the second half after riding a franchise best 51-point third quarter. With the win, the Lakers have won two straight after registering a win against the Orlando Magic Sunday night. The Lakers played well over the two games and hope to continue their hot streak as the season comes to a close.
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Lakers wingman Nick Young told his teammates they should continue to play hard to ruin the playoff hopes of other teams, according to Lakers.com reporter Mike Trudell.
Marshall said Nick Young told teammates they should try to be the “player haters of the year,” aiming to spoil playoff spots or seeds.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 26, 2014
Following the win, the Lakers dropped the Knicks to a record of 29-42. While the mark is slightly better than the Lakers, the Knicks currently hold the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference and find themselves three games out of the final playoff spot. The Lakers could continue to ruin the playoff chances for other teams down the stretch.
Twelve games remain for the Lakers this season, and eight of them are against teams that are fighting for playoff position. The Lakers were the first team to be eliminated from this years playoffs and look to prepare themselves for the lottery in the 2014 NBA Draft.
With some good play over the next three weeks, the Lakers can play the part of the spoiler for Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, or possibly even the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers play each of the five teams who are fighting for the last four spots in the Western Conference in the final stretch of the season.
On top of trying to be “player haters,” many Laker players should be playing hard trying to audition for their next contracts.
A majority of the team have expiring deals, and with their futures uncertain, Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni has expressed urgency from his players.
As the season winds down, the Lakers still have plenty to play for.
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