Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-107 defeat to the Sacramento Kings, NBA icon James Worthy expressed concerns about the team’s mental preparedness.
Worthy, analyzing the game on Spectrum SportsNet, highlighted the Lakers’ apparent lack of mental readiness against the Kings’ aggressive playstyle.
“Sacramento, you are already 0-3 against them [this season]. They have your number already, seems like. And they continued,” Worthy remarked, emphasizing the Kings’ dominance over the Lakers.
The Lakers struggled to contain Domantas Sabonis and the Kings’ balanced offensive attack, despite the efforts of Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
Worthy observed that the Lakers’ big three failed to make a significant impact in the first half, allowing the Kings to establish control early in the game.
“In the third quarter it was too much of Sabonis physicality. Just took AD out of the game early,” the three-time NBA champion said. “First half we got nothing from our big three. It was just one of those games where it just seemed like they just weren’t mentally into it.
Worthy also noted Sacramento’s effective perimeter shooting, with Harrison Barnes and Keegan Murray capitalizing on open opportunities from beyond the arc.
“Barnes getting threes, Murray getting threes. It was just too many easy opportunities. And then for the Lakers not to be able to respond to that. Even though they were chipping away at it, I just didn’t think they were mentally ready and mentally ready to compete. And that’s not good. You got to be ready to compete with a team that’s pounding inside kicking your butt around a bit,” Worthy elaborated.
