Jake LaRavia said on Apr. 4 that the Los Angeles Lakers cannot dwell on their recent loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are the defending champions. The game was seen as a test for the Lakers, but they were defeated decisively from start to finish.
LaRavia addressed reporters after the game and admitted that Los Angeles did not play with enough physicality and made too many turnovers early in the contest. “I spoke to you before the game and I said we have to set the tone, we have to be the more physical team and we gotta play together,” LaRavia said on Spectrum SportsNet. “We started off the game with a lot of turnovers and they scored on pretty much every turnover. We didn’t execute the first play, I messed up the first play, which doesn’t set the tone for the team.
“I gotta be held accountable for that. Just obviously didn’t go our way at all tonight. The first game we’ve had like this in a long time. I feel like this was a test for us as far as playing against the number one team. We had guys battling through whatever it was, but we just gotta focus on the next game and continue to keep our heads straight,” he continued.
LaRavia also noted there was little need for postgame analysis among players or coaches following such a defeat: “Not really. We probably all knew what it was early on in that game about how we were playing and the execution on coverages and our defense and being able to execute offensively,” he said.
The Lakers now face challenges with Luka Doncic sidelined due to injury until at least season’s end, making it necessary for other players to step up during these final games before playoffs begin.
Despite struggles earlier in his season offensively, especially with his jumpshot, LaRavia has maintained strong defensive performances recently—something teammate Luka Doncic acknowledged by crediting him for his contributions during March when Los Angeles went 15-2.
