The Los Angeles Lakers entered this new NBA season in hopes of emerging from last season’s ruins. However, two losses in the first two games have exposed the franchise to an onslaught of criticism. Charles Barkley was one of many who didn’t hold back in his criticism of the Lakers. In fact, he believes the team has failed miserably in its attempts to surround LeBron James with the right pieces.

The Lakers opened the season against the defending champions Golden State Warriors. However, a terrible shooting night in which they shot 10-40 from beyond the arc laid the groundwork for a train wreck, as they eventually lost 123-109.

Hoping to bounce back, the Los Angeles Lakers locked horns with their cross-town rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers. However, despite a strong defensive showing, another horrendous shooting night from beyond the arc was a recipe for failure, as the team fell 103-97.

Charles Barkley had some harsh words of criticism for the Lakers after their loss to the Clippers in their first home game of the season. According to the NBA legend, he feels that the pieces the franchise has surrounded LeBron James with are an embarrassment. Moreover, he feels like someone in the front office has failed miserably at their job.

“Last year, and this year, what they’re putting around LeBron is an embarrassment. Last year they put all them geezers around him, and what they got out there around him right now, somebody’s not doing their job in LA, period,” Barkley noted.

Barkley is certainly not happy with the moves that the Lakers made in the off-season. He indicated that even after a horrendous last season, the Lakers’ front office failed to learn from their shortcomings and continued to add to them.

The Lakers shooting woes persists

As Barkley indicated, the pieces that LeBron James has around him, will possibly not be a recipe for success.

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Last season, the Lakers failed to utilize Russell Westbrook to his strengths. He failed to be the most impactful version of himself next to James and Anthony Davis. As the new season tipped off, that problem was again evident in their home opener as Westbrook finished the game without even making a field goal.

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This off-season, the Lakers added solid players to their roster. Patrick Beverley, Dennis Schroder, Lonnie Walker IV, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Troy Brown Jr., and Damian Jones were all brought over. They are impact players who can likely contribute in several ways. However, one thing they all arguably lack is a consistent stroke from beyond the arc.

Last season, the Lakers’ most glaring issue was their inability to sink three-pointers. In fact, many expected the team to make moves in the off-season and replenish their roster with knockdown shooters. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis at the forefront, the necessity for sound shooters to space the floor and let both of them attack the paint is undeniable.

To the concern of the franchise and its fans, their shooting problems persisted. The team struggled from the outside all pre-season and in their opening two games of the regular season. Even James didn’t hold back his assessment of his team’s poor shooting outing after their loss against the Warriors.

GM Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office are now under a mount of pressure. They will have to bring in reinforcements soon as the championship window with 37-year-old LeBron James at the helm is quickly closing. The Lakers now face the Portland Trail Blazers in their next game.

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Do you think the Lakers will be able to bounce back and have a strong outing this season? Let us know in the comments section below.