:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63264904/usa_today_12265941.0.jpg)
The Los Angeles Lakers will continue their road trip on Tuesday with a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Fiserv Forum. Before they do that, though, I have a small suggestion to make: Can they cancel the game please?
The last time the Lakers saw the Bucks was somewhat entertaining because Brandon Ingram and LeBron James put up 31 points each, and playoff Rajon Rondo made an early appearance, scoring 20 points and dishing out 9 assists.
That won’t happen again tonight. James will rest on Tuesday with a sore groin, Ingram has already been shut down for the season and Rondo has been getting outplayed by Alex Caruso, who the Lakers signed to a two-way contract in 2017. Rondo signed a one-year, fully-guaranteed contract worth $9 million last summer.
Also, a bunch of Bucks — even Giannis — are sitting too:
The team also says the Bucks will be without Sterling Brown, Donte DiVincenzo and Pau Gasol.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) March 19, 2019
So this game is going to be bad — very, very bad. So, again, I ask: Do they have to play?
What’s the worst thing that could happen if the Lakers forfeit Tuesday’s game? Another loss? Great! After the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, the Lakers are 1.5 games back of having the eighth-best odds in the NBA Draft Lottery and just three games back of having the sixth-best odds. There is no reason for them to win another game this season.
“But what about the people that already paid to go see the game?” a voice in the distance asks. Ticketmaster issues refunds to the card that was used to purchase the tickets within 7-10 business days, according to their website. By the time the refund is issued, the buyer can invest in aftermarket tickets to see the Bucks take on the Houston Rockets on March 26.
If you are still interested in watching this game because you are a huge Mike Muscala fan, the game will tip-off at 5 p.m. PST on NBA TV. Muscala will start, so if you’re into that, I guess enjoy the evening. If not, I’m sorry.
For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. You can follow Christian on Twitter at @RadRivas.