Perkins blames James for L.A.’s humiliating 127-100 loss against the Suns.
After losing two consecutive games, expectations were high from the Los Angeles Lakers to bring their best, especially since they had been undefeated in the NBA In-Season Tournament since its inception. However, the Purple & Gold’s recurring third-quarter struggles once again derailed their morale, resulting in a humiliating 27-point loss.
While ten of their 11 players recorded a negative plus/minus rating, Kendrick Perkins singled out LeBron James, criticizing the 39-year-old for his lack of visible effort
The Purple & Gold’s issues became glaring during their Saturday night matchup against the Denver Nuggets, where they were outscored by 22 points in the third quarter, forcing them into catch-up mode and culminating in a 25-point loss. A similar scenario unfolded on Tuesday night against the Phoenix Suns, where the “Lake Show” was outscored by 18 points in the third period. Kevin Durant & Co. took a 20-point lead to begin the fourth quarter, erasing all hopes for a Lakers win.
Even though LeBron registered a double-double with 18 points and ten assists, he fell short of his usual inspiring standards. “The King” shot 2-of-7 from beyond the arc, committed a game-high five turnovers, and eventually finished the game with the worst plus/minus rating of -30. Consequently, “Big Perk” was displeased by the four-time MVP’s half-hearted effort, being among the first to call him out on social media
