D'Angelo Russell says the vibes are great with Lakers on a plane after a loss - 'We have a great time, win lose or draw'

Originally posted on Basketball Network | By Adel Ahmad | Last updated Dec 18, 2024 3:20 AM ET

After 26 games, the Los Angeles Lakers are in a position few anticipated. After an impressive 10-4 start to the 2024-25 season, they stumbled, winning just four of their next 12 games.

The current standings paint a sobering picture for a team that entered the season with championship aspirations. The Lakers hold the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference and are 0.5 games behind the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors. Buried in the pool of competition, the margin for error grows slimmer each game.

A cool vibe

Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell insists the team's energy remains high despite the struggles. With speculation mounting about the franchise's ceiling this season, the locker room dynamic has been scrutinized. Their road trips, where teams often face the pressure of mounting losses, can highlight deeper chemistry issues. Still, Russell's picture tells a different story.

"We have a great time, win, lose or draw, after the game on the plane," Russell said of the Lakers. "Vibes are nine times out of 10 amazing, bro. And if I ain't bringing it, he bringing it; if he ain't bringing it, he bringing it."

"D-Lo's" comments offer insight into the team's mentality: there is no infighting, no pointing fingers, and no sense of doom. Instead, the focus seems to be on perseverance, something the Lakers demonstrated in their matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.

Turning the tide

The Grizzlies, coming off a dominant stretch with a 10-1 record in their last 11 outings, appeared poised to hand L.A. just its fourth home loss of the season.

Instead, the Lakers rode the backs of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who combined for 58 points. Davis was dominant in the final frame, tallying 12 points and converting on all four of his field goal attempts.

The Lakers played one of their best defensive halves of the season, holding the Grizzlies to just 30.4 percent shooting and forcing 12 turnovers in the first half. Memphis scored only 20 points in the opening quarter — its lowest tally of the season — and found itself down by 18 at halftime.

L.A. kept Memphis at bay in the fourth quarter and secured a 116-110 victory. It was a much-needed win for a team looking to recapture its early-season form.

The "Purple and Gold" now face back-to-back road games against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday and Saturday. With a concerning 5-9 road record, these matchups represent an opportunity to make incremental progress in the standings.

This article first appeared on Basketball Network and was syndicated with permission.

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