LeBron James after blowout loss to Bulls: Lakers ‘control our own destiny’

The Lakers finally had an entirely healthy lineup Saturday, with LeBron James returning from a groin issue that sidelined him for nearly two weeks.

Then the Lakers got walloped at home by the up-and-down Bulls, 146-115. James finished with 17 points, but only had 11 through three quarters, when the Lakers still had a fighting chance.

It’s fair to say he looked pretty rusty, aside from a couple of breakaway dunks.

Nevertheless, the loss wasn’t the season. It was just one loss — as bad as it looked. As it stands, the Lakers (43-27) are a mere 2.5 games back of the Rockets for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference standings. But the bottom line is LA is currently the No. 4 seed.

So a lot can and will happen between now and when the playoffs tip off on April 19. LeBron is well aware of this.

“We got 12 games to position ourselves in the postseason,” James said, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “We pretty much can control our own destiny if we win ballgames and not have to be in the play-in.”

The Lakers also had Luka Doncic and normal starter Rui Hachimura on Saturday. The latter also returned from injury and is on a minute restriction.

“I think our key is going to be the defense,” Hachimura said. “Our defense was awful today. We weren’t locked into our game plans and everything. We didn’t execute. They were getting everything — 3s, transition, layups, pick-and-roll, whatever. So we just got to, I think, focus on defense.”

That sounds like a plan, and one the face of the team would support. Coach JJ Redick certainly agreed with LeBron.

“These next 12 games, you’ve got to refind your way,” Redick said. “It’s a perpetually flowing river that we’ve all of a sudden run into a beaver’s [dam] … and we got to get ready to get the water flowing again.”