Young Lakers stars going through end-of-season struggles

The season has been a struggle, but the Lakers’ last four games — all losses — ranked among the most difficult to watch.

Since an improbable victory over Golden State, slow starts have plagued the Lakers (14-55) and the growth of their young trio — D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson — has slowed to a standstill.

Clarkson, usually the steadiest of the three, made only 15 of 57 shots (26%) in the last four games.

“To be honest with you, I think I’ve been playing kind of lazy in terms of my fundamentals and stuff,” Clarkson said Sunday after he finished his post-practice shooting routine.

Coach Byron Scott said he was not overly concerned about the trio’s slump. “I know that they can get out of that,” Scott said. “I also know that they’ve got to get out of it the right way and it can’t be going into the game thinking, ‘I’ve got to get my shot going.’”

Thirteen games remain on the schedule. Clarkson hesitated when asked if his struggles were related to the end of the season.

“Actually, kind of, a little bit,” Clarkson said. “A little fatigue and stuff. But everybody is tired around this time, so you just got to figure out a way to get through.”

Nance could start

Scott has not decided if Larry Nance Jr. will play Tuesday against Memphis or Wednesday at Phoenix.

Nance does not play in back-to-back games because of a knee injury.

Nance has started 22 games at power forward. Scott said he recently thought about starting Nance at small forward and that he might try it this week.

“This is a whole new position that he is learning,” Scott said. “The one thing with Larry… you put him in that position and he’s going to think a lot right now, and in his normal position he just plays.

“This is a totally different position that he is going to learn, so I expect that he is going to struggle with it.”

Bryant’s schedule

Scott said no decision had been made about Kobe Bryant in the back-to-back games. Bryant has been slowed and sidelined recently because of a shoulder injury.

If Bryant continues his pattern since announcing that he would retire at the end of the season, he probably will play against the Suns in his final trip to Phoenix.

“I know how he feels as far as trying to play in every arena on the road for the last time,” Scott said.

Scott did not dismiss the possibility that Bryant could play in both games. Tuesday would be his last time facing the Grizzlies.

“I hope he feels a whole lot better, that’s the biggest thing,” Scott said. “But like I’ve said before, as much as I understand his priorities that he feels he needs to play, I still think he needs to take care of himself.

“I’m looking out for him 10 years down the line, I don’t want him to get some type of permanent damage to his shoulder where in 10 years they need to do reconstruction or do something crazy.”

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