The Lakers once held an 18 point lead against the Wizards, but they had a complete meltdown in the second half. Los Angeles’ defense was essentially non existent and it had no way of stopping John Wall or Trevor Ariza. The two Wizard players led the surge in the fourth quarter and the Lakers had no answer for them.
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D’Antoni had some harsh words for his team after the loss, but the Daily News writes that the coach clarified his criticism.
“I’m talking about everybody,” D’Antoni said Sunday. “To say one is more guilty than the other? No. It doesn’t really matter. It’s ‘The Lakers screwed up.'”
Although D’Antoni never mention Kobe Bryant’s name in his post game remarks, it was clear that he aiming his criticism to the five time champion. Bryant took some ill advised shots late in the fourth quarter and he allowed Ariza to scorch the Lakers with his three point shooting. D’Antoni has been stressing team basketball for quite some time now and he does not find the one-on-one basketball Bryant is accustomed to as a viable option late in games.
The Lakers will be back in action tonight for a divisional game against the Golden State Warriors.