In a rather unimpressive manner, the Lakers emerged victorious against the Sixers on Friday, and at this stage of the season, perhaps that’s the most crucial aspect. As someone who watches basketball as a profession, I consider it a blessing and privilege that I never take for granted. I appreciate every moment and strive to avoid becoming resentful or cynical like some individuals in this industry who have grown weary after years of work. However, during Friday’s game, I experienced the arduous nature of it all as I witnessed two struggling teams struggling to score, defend, or even maintain possession smoothly.

In the end, the Lakers managed to secure a win with a score of 101-94, although they achieved it despite their lackluster efforts. Throughout the night, they committed 21 turnovers and only shot 43% from the field.

Considering the game was treated as a “must-win” situation and the Philadelphia 76ers were without their star player Joel Embiid, one would expect the Lakers to approach the match with the same energy and urgency they displayed against the Hawks on Monday. However, for some reason, that focus was absent.

Instead, there were instances of poor shot selection, eight missed free throws, and inadequate team rebounding. The only players who performed well in terms of rebounding were Anthony Davis, who displayed his usual dominance with 19 boards, and Rui Hachimura, who contributed seven.

Following the unimpressive victory, Darvin Ham expressed his frustration regarding the game and how the Lakers managed to achieve their desired outcome.

“One thing you must avoid is self-inflicted wounds, where you become disappointed because you didn’t receive a foul call or commit turnovers. There’s a difference between unforced errors and competitive turnovers. Some of our turnovers were competitive, with players simply attempting to pass the ball to an open teammate, but it didn’t quite work out. Unfortunately, a bunch of turnovers occurred consecutively. Additionally, when you’re playing against the shot clock, you’re forced to take a rushed shot, which is almost equivalent to a turnover because it disrupts the rhythm. However, our team regrouped, and players became vocal on the sideline, which was fantastic. We’ve been emphasizing open dialogue throughout the year, and it has been particularly effective recently. We discuss things and avoid collapsing under pressure, striving to find solutions. Frustration should serve as a prelude to focus. 

It’s natural to feel upset and angry about mistakes, but you can’t dwell in those emotions. You must swiftly move forward to maintain your momentum and emerge victorious in a game like this.” The Lakers exhibited that focus in the closing quarter. They entered the final 12 minutes trailing by one point, and with the game hanging in the balance, they relied on their two star players, LeBron James and Davis, to lead them to victory. They didn’t disappoint, scoring the team’s first 13 points and providing the Lakers with a slim lead, which they maintained until the end.

Davis showcased his defensive prowess with emphatic blocks, rejecting Tyrese Maxey and Kyle Lowry in the final 90 seconds. This ensured that the Lakers capitalized on the Warriors’ loss to the Pacers, gaining an advantage over their Northern California rivals.

Other positive aspects of the game included D’Angelo Russell breaking the franchise record for made 3-pointers in a single season and Spencer Dinwiddie achieving his highest point total with the Lakers, scoring 11 points.

The Lakers performed poorly, but they managed to secure the win. Therefore, the question arises: how significant is that performance?

On Friday, they took a page from the 1983 White Sox by “winning ugly,” a nickname earned by the team as they accumulated victories in Chicago’s Southside en route to a 99-win season.

With only a dozen games remaining, the team is in desperate need of wins to potentially avoid the play-in tournament or, at the very least, host a single elimination game. Perhaps the most crucial aspect is that they obtained the desired outcome.

Turnovers, missed free throws, and poor rebounding are all areas that need improvement in their upcoming game against the Pacers on Sunday. However, for now, the Lakers can take solace in the fact that they got the job done and improved their season record to 38-32.

That will have to suffice for the time being.