Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James 'focused' on improving team at trade deadline

PORTLAND, Ore. — Facing a team below them in the standings that was playing with a patchwork roster, the Los Angeles Lakers still managed to find a way to lose to the Trail Blazers on Wednesday, 107-105, to fall four games under .500 for the first time this season.

Afterward, LeBron James admitted that Thursday's trade deadline, which could prove consequential for a Lakers squad that came into the season openly touting its championship goal, is affecting the team.

«Obviously, this is something that's weighing on this group that we're all trying to get through,» said James, who led L.A. with 30 points but also coughed up six turnovers while controlling the offense with Russell Westbrook out due to tightness in his lower back. «Almost feels like it's a fog, just fog in the air. And we're all trying to see what's on the other side of it.»

It was L.A.'s sixth loss in its past eight games. The only wins in that stretch came against the New York Knicks, after rallying from a 21-point deficit, and the Blazers, who were without their star, Damian Lillard. Lillard also sat out Wednesday's contest.

James' dour demeanor was reminiscent of how he processed the Lakers' loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, when he admitted his team was not at the level of the defending NBA champions.

He might have been even more exasperated following the loss to the Blazers, who not only were missing Lillard but had two of the key acquisitions from the CJ McCollum trade — Josh Hart and Eric Bledsoe — in street clothes.

«Literally just — I'm tired as hell right now,» James said. «I just want to get some wine and get up tomorrow. I feel good about what tomorrow has in store, and we'll see what happens. We'll see what happens as far as the deadline,