Did you get what you wanted for Christmas? No?
Well, neither did the Warriors -- they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 127-101 on Tuesday night. Which means the Lakers were happy, and their holiday wish was answered.
Nothing appeared to be working for the Dubs, who struggled in just about every aspect of the game -- and they did it without having LeBron James during its entirety.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
That said, it didn't take long to hear from the guys on FS1's "Undisputed," specifically Shannon Sharpe, who wanted to know why Kevin Durant, "the best player in the NBA," wasn't brought in to finish out the game when the Warriors were within arms reach of at least a close game at one point.
The meat of the KD conversation takes place around the 2-minute mark:
So, here's the thing ...
Durant did OK in the third quarter -- he led the team in assists and had eight points. But he didn't end up starting the fourth quarter -- he wasn't even brought in until three minutes had passed when he replaced Andre Iguodala.
Golden State Warriors
Find the latest Golden State Warriors news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
In the fourth, KD played for just 5:47 and scored four points. Steph Curry didn't score at all during that time in 8:26, and Klay Thompson tallied just two points in 6:45 of play.
Sharpe makes a good point. You have to put in the talents of KD, especially if you're going against a team he's not only comfortable competing against, but a team he thrives facing.
It's understandable that an injury situation could be of concern, but against the Lakers, the nine-time All-Star needs to be showing off, at least a little.
[RELATED: Why Draymond's struggles are alarming]
Give the home crowd what they want!
Would KD have been the answer for the Warriors to leave with a win? Probably not, especially with both Draymond Green and Co. having struggles on the court. Depending on one individual to carry a team is a rarity, but Durant could have made it a bit more interesting of a game. Instead, the Warriors held their heads low.
