Lakers Continue Losing Ways in Portland

The Lakers haven't won in Portland since February of 2005, suffering a string of six straight defeats against the Blazers there heading into Monday night's contest. Let's just go ahead and make it seven, shall we? Because L.A. was beaten soundly and never really had a chance in this one, falling by a score of 111-94.

L.A. must have believed in the streak as much as Portland did, because they came out expecting to lose. They managed to score just 16 first quarter points, and trailed by nine at the end of the period. Once the game got off to that type of start in the Blazers' favor, Portland smelled blood and was able to all but put the game away in the second quarter, outscoring the Lakers by 14 in the period and taking a 61-38 lead into halftime.

The Lakers didn't bother with the game after that, and trailed by as many as 30 points late in the third quarter. With the game completely decided and the Blazers pouring it on, at least one Laker was done watching Portland score at will. That Laker was Trevor Ariza.

With the Blazers up by 28 points near the end of the third quarter, Portland's Rudy Fernandez went in for a dunk, when Trevor Ariza swung at his head from behind, and knocked him to the floor. Fernandez fell awkwardly, and took several minutes to get up before needing to be taken off the floor on a stretcher. Ariza was whistled for a "flagrant two" foul, which got him an automatic ejection.

The play happened on the baseline right in front of the Lakers' bench, so players from both teams got in each other's faces and some pushing and shoving ensued. Technicals were assessed to LaMarcus Aldridge and Travis Outlaw, but Lamar Odom seemed to leave the bench during the altercation, which, if the league saw it the same way, would get Odom a one game suspension for doing so.

That single play aside, the Lakers showed zero toughness and simply caved once it seemed as though recent history would be repeating itself. With the playoffs less than six weeks away and the Lakers holding a seven and a half game lead over the second place team in the West, it's understandable that their motivation level isn't necessarily at its highest. But if they allow themselves to get beaten soundly by inferior teams until then, they could find themselves involved in some closer-than-expected battles in the early rounds of the playoffs. Which is obviously less than ideal for a team seeking the easiest path possible back to the NBA Finals.