LeBron James says 'tough stretch' might benefit Lakers: 'Best teacher in life is experience'

The Los Angeles Lakers lost their fourth straight game Wednesday night, getting absolutely thrashed by the Utah Jazz. LeBron James acknowledged that it's been a "tough stretch" for the defending champs but said that the adversity may be good for the team, as it should force them to reflect on their mistakes and hopefully improve moving forward.

"It's a tough stretch for us," LeBron told reporters after the game. "You know this won't define who we will be for the rest of the season and for the long haul. That's for sure."

LeBron tried to remain optimistic about the Lakers' current slide, explaining that "the best teacher in life is experience" and that even a losing streak can "benefit our team tremendously."

The Lakers have certainly not played up to their usual standards over the past few games, but there is reason to believe that this stretch is not entirely reflective of the team. Anthony Davis and Dennis Schroder, who have arguably been the second- and third-best players for Los Angeles this season, both have been sidelined, with Davis not expected to return for several weeks. 

Still, if the Lakers hope to once again compete for a title, they will need to see more production out of the rest of the roster, who have struggled to step up.