All too often both this season and last season, the Los Angeles Lakers have come out against inferior teams with what has seemed like a casual attitude and played down to the level of their opposition.

The Los Angeles Lakers improved to 2–1 on their East coast road trip with a 134–96 victory over the Washington Wizards on Thursday night in D.C. Lakers star LeBron James scored 24 points and added 11 assists and three rebounds in the blowout win, and exited the game late in the third quarter with the contest well in-hand.

While it was a mismatch on paper, JJ Reddick still implored his Lakers to play with a chip on their shoulder against the Wizards.