LeBron James: 'I've Got to Do Better' for Lakers After 3OT Loss vs. Kings

LeBron James shouldered the blame for the Los Angeles Lakers' triple-overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

"I felt like I played a horrible game individually, and I hold myself to a higher standard than that," James told reporters after the 141-137 defeat at Staples Center. "I've got to do better for this team, especially when we're going through what we're going through on the floor."

The four-time NBA MVP racked up 30 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in 50 minutes, but he also turned the ball over seven times and made just two of his 13 three-point attempts.

Los Angeles is still trying to find its way following a massive roster overhaul in the offseason that changed many of the players around the superstar tandem of James and Anthony Davis.

James missed 10 games with an abdominal strain and was also suspended for one game after an altercation with the Detroit Pistons' Isaiah Stewart, absences that have slowed the team-building process.

That said, it's getting to the point of the campaign when the Lakers need to start showing some consistent, tangible progress toward becoming a serious contender. They sit seventh in the Western Conference with a 10-11 record after the loss to Sacramento.

"You know, 10-11, I mean, we could go on a 10-game winning streak, 12-game winning streak, now the narrative is different," Davis said. "You know, 10-game winning streak, we're 20-11. Now we'll shut everybody up. But it's on us. We're going to have to do it. It's not just going to be easy."

L.A. will need to showcase improvement at both ends of the floor to make that type of run. It ranks 20th in offensive efficiency and 16th in defensive efficiency, according to ESPN.

Head coach Frank Vogel isn't ready to press the panic button quite yet, though:

"We knew the early season was going to be bumpy. This season is about peaking at the right time, and understanding that we're going to use the 82-game season to learn each other, and to grow each day, each game. You want to win games like this, but there's a big picture mindset that we're taking with this team."

Between James, Davis and Russell Westbrook, the Lakers have enough high-end talent to eventually make a run, especially since they have a deep group of reserves, but getting all of the pieces to fit properly is still a work in progress for Vogel and his staff.

L.A. will be back in action Sunday night when it hosts the Pistons for what could be a contentious rematch.