A brutalization. A destruction of worlds. Pure unfettered basketball dominance.

There are no other words to describe how the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 12. From the beginning to the end of the game, the Thunder’s elite defensive presence prevented the Lakers from getting shots in the paint.

There were rarely any open shots, and when they were available, they fell short. Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Marcus Smart looked almost unplayable at times. The turnovers didn’t stop either, as the Lakers matched the Thunder’s total for the whole game in the first half. 

If examined a little more objectively, it was clear that the Lakers didn’t play their best basketball. The Lakers’ backcourt of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves looked out of sorts the entire game. Doncic, in particular, was held to his lowest scoring total of the year, scoring just 19 points on 7-for-20 from the field.

Doncic would later call the performance “one of the worst this season.”  The Lakers scored 38 points in the first half while giving up 70. Overall, the performance demonstrated very low effort. Once the Lakers fell behind by a few points, there was nothing JJ Redick could do to make his team care about the game.

The elephant in the room remains LeBron James‘ absence. It was crystal clear last night that the Lakers do, in fact, need him to suit up and compete with true contenders. It’s very good news that he is a game-time decision for the Lakers-Jazz game on 11/18.

Roster Flaws Exposed

The concerning fact remains that the Thunder didn’t even play their best basketball either. Their second-best player, Jalen Williams, remains sidelined along with elite defensive guard Lu Dort. What remains concerning is the general lack of size on the Lakers’ roster and the absence of a true 3-and-D wing. 

The Lakers just looked too small. Hartenstein and Holmgren dwarfed Deandre Ayton and made Jaxson Hayes look more like a power forward. Holmgren specifically was easily able to attack the basket. No one on the Lakers could contest his shot despite their best efforts.

Ayton has been outplaying his contract this season, but his play is not enough to make up for the lack of frontcourt depth plaguing Los Angeles.

In terms of the three-and-D wings, Lakers second-round pick Adou Thiero made some athletic plays in a win on Nov. 15 against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Thiero could be a solution, but it’s clear the Lakers have to make some trades. The Lakers are paying too much money for players who are effective only on playing on one side of the ball.

One key example of this is Jarred Vanderbilt, who is in the second season of a four-year, $48 million extension. Vanderbilt often finds himself sidelined due to his inability to convert open jump shots, struggles as a free-throw shooter, and as a scorer overall. 

Additionally, Lakers guard Gabe Vincent has demonstrated himself to be ineffective in playoff situations. He is an injury risk and a liability on offense. He is in the last year of a three-year, $33 million deal, making his contract a trade asset. Given the exceptional guard play of Doncic and Reaves, Vincent’s salary would make much more sense if replaced by a wing or a center. 

Looking to the Future

While the Los Angeles Lakers have impressed critics this season with their 10-4 start, it’s clear that there are major roster holes. These holes have persisted since last year, and there are limited avenues to improvement unless a trade is made.

It remains to be seen what general manager Rob Pelinka will do. However, the gap between the Thunder and the Lakers is widening, and the clock on Luka Doncic’s extension continues to tick.