Jodie Meeks is becoming a factor for the Lakers

The Lakers dropped to 9-11 on Friday, losing in Oklahoma City, 114-108.

It was just another loss in a string of losses. The Lakers are just 2-6 on the road, but they played hard Friday and, at times, well against the Thunder.

The Lakers just couldn’t overcome the 41 points they gave up in the second quarter.

Jodie Meeks, in particular, was a factor. He was the only player on the team with a positive plus/minus, the Lakers outscoring the Thunder by 11 over the 20 minutes Meeks was on the floor.

Meeks was so uncomfortable under Coach Mike Brown’s system that he drifted out of the rotation altogether in favor of Devin Ebanks.

Under Mike D’Antoni, Meeks has emerged as a scoring threat off the bench. On the season he’s averaging only 6.3 points per game while shooting 38.4% from the field, but his more recent numbers tell a different story.

D’Antoni has coached nine games with the Lakers. In those games, Meeks has averaged 8.0 points while shooting 47.6% from three-point range.

Over the nine with Brown and Bernie Bickerstaff (in the interim), Meeks shot 25% on three-point tries.

Once the Lakers have Steve Nash (leg) and Pau Gasol (knees) back, the team will show its true colors. After looking initially like a front-office mistake, Meeks might still be a significant factor for the Lakers this season.

ALSO:

Westbrook, Durant lead Thunder past Lakers

Lakers’ Dwight Howard moonlighting as ‘Ghost Hunter’

Timberwolves President David Kahn denies Pau Gasol trade rumors

Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.