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LA Lakers guard Austin Reaves didn't mince his words following the team's loss against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. With a clear understanding of their situation at this point in the season, Reaves highlighted how important each game would be from here on out.
The LA Lakers continued to struggle to get to .500 on the season after yet another heartbreaking loss. Coming up short by 110-114 against the Rockets, the Purple and Gold found themselves slipping to 10th in the West with a 34-36 record.
The Lakers' struggles against Houston were understandable. While already missing a superstar in LeBron James, the Purple and Gold also saw Anthony Davis sidelined.
Considering it was a back-to-back matchup, the Lakers organization made the decision to bench Davis, who is coming off an injury. With immense fatigue from the previous game, the Purple and Gold faced an uphill battle in Houston.
The Lakers were shorthanded but they fought hard nonetheless. Unfortunately, their efforts came up just a bit short. With another loss in the books, Lakers guard Austin Reaves echoed the sentiment of the team after the game. He said:
"It's a back-to-back, there's no excuse everybody has those in the league. So, you got to find something to energize you. It's hard sometimes. But, end of the day, with where we're at in the standings and what we're trying to do that should be enough. We, as players, have got to do better. Just figure out something, for the group, to get going."
Austin Reaves gave a very realistic account of the team's situation. While taking accountability for the loss, the youngster highlighted how important each upcoming game would be if playoff aspirations were to be kept alive.
The loss to Houston had a lot to do with the lack of reinforcements. With no legitimate size on the roster, the Lakers were at the mercy of the Rockets' big-man duo.
With Kevin Porter Jr. also cooking them for 27 points, the Purple and Gold had practically no response outside of Austin Reaves' 24 points from the bench.
Read: "1.2.3 Cancun here we come" - LA Lakers fans in shambles after team falls to 16-win Houston Rockets
The LA Lakers could be in trouble
The LA Lakers find themselves in a troublesome situation yet again. After a loss in a crucial game, the Purple and Gold are on the brink of falling out of Play-in contention.
The situation doesn't necessarily spell disaster for the team. However, they are in bad shape. While being half a game ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans in 11th, the Lakers are now half a game behind the OKC Thunder.
Given how tight the West is, the Purple and Gold could easily make a climb up the ranks if they can stack a couple of wins together. However, with Anthony Davis' inconsistent performances and LeBron James' injury status, the Purple and Gold are in a bit of a bind.
