ORLANDO, Fla. -- After everything came together almost instantly for the Los Angeles Lakers once the Luka Doncic deal was completed and they rocketed up the standings bolstered by a surprise suffocating defense, that success left them as quickly as it came.
Monday's 118-106 loss to the Orlando Magic dropped Los Angeles to 3-7 in its last 10 games, with the average margin of defeat in those games well into double digits (15.7 points).
And now, with just 11 games remaining in the regular season and a top-six seed in the Western Conference far from guaranteed, the Magic loss delivered a chance for self-reflection for the suddenly reeling group.