Lakers Enter Seven Game Losing Streak After Falling To Memphis Grizzlies

The Lakers couldn’t contain the Grizzlies in Kobe Bryant’s last visit to Memphis.

Sloppy play in the first quarter is really what made the difference for the Lakers on Wednesday night in Memphis.

It was the frame where the Grizzlies came out with a ten point lead, 36-26, and never looked back.

Los Angeles kept it even with Memphis throughout the second half, matching the Grizzlies’ 61 points in the last two quarters, but it just wasn’t enough.

What’s been trending for the Lakers is the fact that if they lose their head too early in the game, it won’t matter what they do to try and resurrect themselves later on.

Jordan Clarkson had the biggest scoring night for the Lakers, dropping 28 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

D’Angelo Russell got more of a taste of what it’s like in the starting lineup and shined with 22 points, four rebounds, and eight assists.

Kobe Bryant and Julius Randle also scored 13 and 11 points, respectively.

While those four key guys have been doing just fine in holding their own, but for whatever reason Roy Hibbert is looking like his former self from his days with the Indiana Pacers.

To put it nicely, he’s been unproductive.

Against the Grizzlies, Hibbert had only one point, four rebounds, and no assists — does that sound like someone who should be starting at center?

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In his last ten games, he’s averaging three points, three rebounds, and his overall scoring efficiency is at it’s lowest in his career at .441 — just a hair up from his .446 efficiency score last season with Indiana.

The Lakers brought him in to try and be a presence down low, but instead have gotten just the opposite from him.

Should they have seen this coming from Hibbert?

Probably, but with this season not going anywhere outside of the regular season, there’s reason to have faith in the front office that they’ll do what they need to in order to get back into contention.

Lou Williams had 22 points, three rebounds, and an assist coming off the bench, while Brandon Bass went out for 11 points and six rebounds with no assists.

The combination of Matt Barnes and Mike Conley proved to be too much for the Lakers defense to handle, as the duo went off for nearly 50 points combined.

Statistically speaking, the only thing the Lakers really won at was having a slightly better free throw percentage than the Grizzlies.

Los Angeles shot 44.3% from the field compared to 56.5% from Memphis, along with a five percentage point differential when looking at how the teams did from beyond the arc.

Next: Byron Scott's Fractured Relationship With Front Office

The Lakers and Grizzlies will play each other again tomorrow night at Staples Center.