After losing to the Phoenix Suns 110-121, the Lakers have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
A team that started the season with hopes of winning the NBA championship after forming a new ‘Big 3’ with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook finishes the season in an embarrassing fashion.
As you expect, NBA Twitter was merciless…
Since preseason title favorites were first announced before the 1984-85 season, the top two teams have never failed to make the playoffs.
The Lakers (no. 2 favorites) are the first team to do so. pic.twitter.com/UeEDn0haHs
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 6, 2022
This Lakers team not making the playoffs is one the Biggest Disappointments in NBA HISTORY!!! It’s one thing to underachieve in the Playoffs but to not make it at all is RIDICULOUS. Carry on….
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) April 6, 2022
Kawhi Leonard has played 0 games.
Paul George has played 29 games.
The Clippers duo played 0 games together.LeBron James has played 56 games.
Anthony Davis has played 40 games.
Russell Westbrook has played 78 games.
The Lakers trio played 21 games together.— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 6, 2022
We all agree that the Lakers 2020 bubble ring doesn’t count right?
— Guru (@DrGuru_) April 6, 2022
Let’s take a look at the teams that beat the Lakers for play-in spots:
Wolves: One playoff berth in 17 years
Clippers: No Kawhi all year, only 29 games from Paul George
Pelicans: No Zion all year, started 1-12
Spurs: Were sellers at this year’s trade deadline TWO MONTHS AGO
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) April 6, 2022
The Lakers really TRICKED me! They really had me thinking they were about to do this and do that and my big dumb 🤬 really felt for it. They fact that they are 17 games under .500 is making my damn skin crawl! They can’t get a pass on this one. Real Talk.
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) April 6, 2022
Lebron missed the playoffs twice since joining the lakers
— ²³ (@PlayoffDraymond) April 6, 2022
The Lakers were the preseason favorite to win the West and didn’t even make the playoffs
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) April 6, 2022
The Los Angeles Lakers missing the playoffs is not on Russell Westbrook.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) April 6, 2022
Lakers will face the Clippers in the playoffs . . .
(G-League playoffs)
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) April 6, 2022
LeBron’s four years with the Lakers:
Year 1: No playoffs
Year 2: Championship in bubble
Year 3: First round exit
Year 4: No playoffs— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) April 6, 2022
Lakers have now missed the playoffs in 7 of the last 9 seasons.
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) April 6, 2022
