The Lakers had a glimpse of victory in the game, but ultimately, their hopes were snuffed out by Jalen Green's continuous scoring. Although they trailed by 20 points at one point, the Lakers nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback. The reason why the Lakers failed to achieve a 20-point comeback in this game can be attributed to two players who could be considered moles. The first is Christie, who, in the final moments, threw an inbound pass directly to the Rockets' VanVleet, effectively ending any chance of a Lakers' comeback. The second is Hachimura, a forward who was essentially a spectator on defense, allowing opponents to score at will and sometimes not even bothering to raise his hand. His defense became a cash machine for the Rockets.
LeBron James, despite putting up a near-triple-double with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists, struggled to carry these two liabilities. After the loss, both Christie and James looked at each other in disbelief, unable to fathom how such a passing error could be so catastrophic. It should be noted that Christie played well throughout the game, especially defensively, showing great effort and tenacity. However, it was a significant mistake during the crucial inbound pass that cost them.
Bachunlei, on the other hand, is a player who elicits frustration, seemingly incapable of contributing anything meaningful. It's unclear why he's even on the court, as every time he plays, the Lakers seem to lose ground. It might be better to dismantle him or trade him for other capable players. The Lakers are reportedly interested in acquiring Vucevic, and many fans have expressed their desire to see Bachunlei and other players traded away in exchange for Vucevic.
