West Notes: Lakers, LeBron James, Jazz, Warriors

Lakers

The Lakers are again under .500 following Tuesday’s road loss to the Hawks, and it’s safe to say LeBron James is none too pleased.

“We could, on any given night, beat any team in the NBA,” James told reporters. “But, on any given night, we can get our (butt) kicked by any team in the NBA. What’s our record? Under .500? There you go.”

That game came without Anthony Davis (hip), and it came on the second night of a back-to-back. But the Lakers are past the midway point and well past the point of excuses.

It may be a big reason why James, 39, played in two games in two days.

“When I’m healthy enough to go out there and play, I just try to perform at a high level, help my teammates do great things out there on the floor, try to be productive,” he said. “Win, lose or draw, be satisfied with the way I approach the game.”

• The Lakers’ top trade target remains Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, as we relayed here.

Jazz

The Jazz took one on the chin Tuesday on the road against the Knicks, and coach Will Hardy indicated the team needs to be tougher.

“We’re just not doing a good enough job of being physical and this is two nights in a row where a team has made us pay for it,” he told reporters.

It marked the second New York loss in two nights for Utah, which was run out of the building on Monday against the Nets, 147-114. The Jazz ended their six-game swing with two wins.

• Is forward Lauri Markkanen an All-Star? We made our East and West reserve picks right here.
• The Jazz have held trade talks centered on guard Jordan Clarkson and big man Kelly Olynyk recently, including some with the Knicks. We have the full story at this link.

Warriors

The Warriors needed a win, badly, and got one Tuesday at home vs. the injury-plagued 76ers.

“I think it’s starting to come together for us now,” forward Draymond Green said. “We’ve just got to string some wins together.”

Green has been a pretty big reason for that, added coach Steve Kerr.

“Draymond really changed things with his return because he connects those guys at both ends of the floor, just with his communication defensively and the way he helps get us organized offensively,” Kerr said. “Great to see (Andrew Wiggins) and (Jonathan Kuminga) both playing so well and playing well together. It’s fun, you can see the team we’re shifting a little bit with how we’re playing and who we’re playing.”

• The Warriors reportedly have been fielding trade offers for Wiggins. (Full post) And perhaps some for veteran point guard Chris Paul. (Full post)