Charles Barkley goes in on LA Lakers again: “They stink… Lakers are not in the same conversation as Clippers”
Charles Barkley certainly doesn't hold the LA Lakers in high regard after last season's debacle. The Hall of Famer has been heavily critical of the 17-time NBA champions almost every time he's on air with TNT on "Inside the NBA."
Barkley took another jab at the Lakers by comparing them to their crosstown rivals, the LA Clippers. Here's what he said (via Talkin' NBA):
"Got to talk about them, America. They stink. The Lakers are not in the same conversation with the Clippers."
Charles Barkley: "Got to talk about them, America. They stink. The Lakers are not in the same conversation with the Clippers."
#LakeShow https://t.co/mEnqs1pYE8
Charles Barkley's assessment of the Lakers could be deemed fair. They are off to another poor start and are 11-16 this year. LA has shown glimpses of being a solid team at times, but they haven't been able to sustain it. The Lakers have put together three wins in a stretch twice, and that's the longest streak they've put together.
The LA Lakers also don't stack up well against the rest of the contenders compared to their roster construction. The Purple and Gold lack size and perimeter shooting, which has led to their inability to win games consistently.
They don't have a reliable supporting cast to support LeBron James and Anthony Davis. This makes it difficult for them to stay competitive throughout the regular season and make a deep push in the playoffs considering James and Davis' injury-prone history over the last two seasons.
Meanwhile, the LA Clippers have one of the best rosters in the league. They haven't played to their potential, as Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have struggled with injuries again. But they are arguably a better team than the Lakers right now.
Also read: Charles Barkley takes a clear shot at LA Lakers ownership for "not doing their job" and deploying "geezers": "What they're putting around LeBron is an embarrassment"
Charles Barkley hilariously claims it's a conspiracy that the NBA is showing LA Lakers
Charles Barkley doesn't seem like he's going to let the LA Lakers off the hook anytime soon. While going on another rant on "Inside The NBA," Barkley said the NBA is forcing viewers to see the Lakers in action.
"They forcing us to show them all the time like they're going to be good," said Barkley (via Talkin' NBA). "There's a conspiracy."
"The Lakers stink. [The NBA] forcing us to show them all the time like they're going to be good. There's a conspiracy."
— Charles Barkley
#NBATwitter #LakeShow https://t.co/SRxLJJcNl2
The Lakers have continued to be among the most mentioned teams on debate shows and in the media. They get plenty of attention for a team with only the 12th-best record in the West. However, they also have the game's most talked about superstars, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Anthony Davis, playing for them.
The LA Lakers are also among the most-watched teams around the league for the same reason. This is what gets them on national TV when they play against marquee teams. Whether analysts like Charles Barkley like it or not, the Lakers are likely to be among the most talked about teams until their stars are still on the roster.
Also read: Charles Barkley refuses to give LA Lakers their flowers after 8-2 run: “If the playoffs started today, they wouldn’t even be in the Play-in Game”