Anthony Davis: In a disappointing game on Sunday night, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered another defeat, bringing their season record to an even 17-17. Anthony Davis, the star player, acknowledges that the team’s current standing is far from ideal as they approach the midpoint of the regular season.
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The recent loss against the New Orleans Pelicans highlighted a significant problem for the Lakers – their inability to defend the three-point line. Veteran guard C.J. McCollum exploited this weakness, scoring 22 points and hitting six three-pointers during the game, ultimately contributing to New Orleans’ victory.
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The Pelicans, as a team, were exceptionally effective from beyond the arc, finishing the game with a 50% success rate by making 17 of their 35 attempts. Davis recognizes that allowing so many three-pointers is a recipe for defeat and expressed his frustration after the game on Spectrum SportsNet.
Anthony Davis Highlights Health and Defensive Woes
Anthony Davis emphasized, “They were killing us on the glass. And then Rui [Hachimura] goes out. I just said that’s going to be our biggest downfall this year. Not being able to stay healthy, especially coming off a back-to-back. You’re already missing Cam [Reddish], DLo. Obviously, Gabe [Vincent] is out for an extended period of time, but then Rui goes down. Now, our rotation is smaller. You lose another body as far as scoring, but yeah, I mean, defensively, we gave up a lot of threes.”
The Lakers faced a dual challenge in the recent game, not only struggling defensively but also dealing with injuries. Hachimura’s calf strain added to their woes, further limiting their available roster. The absence of key players like Cam Reddish and D’Angelo Russell also impacted the team’s performance on both ends of the floor.
Davis believes that the team’s Achilles heel this season has been its struggle to stay healthy. The constant absence of key players disrupts their rhythm and diminishes their overall performance. The Lakers face a daunting task of overcoming these injury setbacks, especially with important contributors like Hachimura sidelined.
Anthony Davis admitted, “I think our effort to start and our attentiveness was very low
Reflecting on the defensive lapses, Davis admitted, “I think our effort to start and our attentiveness was very low. Just from the point of C.J. [McCollum], a lot of his threes were buttnaked. That’s tough to deal with.”
Looking ahead, the Lakers hope to regroup and recover from their injury setbacks. With the second half of the season approaching, the team needs to address defensive vulnerabilities and work towards building a healthier roster. Only time will reveal if the Lakers can make a strong comeback and embark on a successful run in the remainder of the season.
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