ATLANTA —
Twenty-one video games into this NBA season, Anthony Davis sat inside a room that had been repurposed for information conferences inside the-then Staples Heart when he boldly predicted the Lakers have been able to successful 10 in a row. Possibly much more.
That will change the narrative, Davis stated, shut up the critics and show that the eye paid to his group can be earned and never merely given.
“We’re the Lakers,” he stated.
At that time of the season, being these Lakers wasn’t such a cursed proposition. The hope wasn’t so summary, the longer term not so darkish and the clock not near working out on them.
Fifty-one video games into the season, that’s all modified even when the setting actually hasn’t.
Sitting inside a room that used to deal with a Zamboni close to the loading dock at State Farm Area in Atlanta, Davis was reminded of his prediction. And this time, he wasn’t so daring.
After suggesting that the upcoming All-Star break in the course of February can be a very good probability for the group to get away and reset, Davis stated he nonetheless thinks the longer term for the Lakers has extra in it than disappointment.
“I nonetheless imagine that we bought a very good group. We simply haven’t been all the best way wholesome for our group. I imply, all our gamers. LeBron [James] is now out. I simply got here again. I believe essentially the most irritating half is that we are able to’t end video games. We’ve had a number of video games that we had gained and groups come again and beat us,” Davis stated. “…However I nonetheless have perception, man. We’re a very good group. It doesn't matter what occurs within the common season, if we get into the playoffs, we’re a very good group. And I nonetheless imagine that.”
Possibly he does. Possibly saying it helps reinforce that perception. Or perhaps Davis, like anybody else who has watched the Lakers carry out under expectations, is aware of that the Lakers are barely nearer to determining their issues than they have been in late November.
Following their loss to the Hawks — a recreation the place the group opened with the perfect taking pictures half of any group within the NBA this season — the Lakers are three video games under .500. James is injured. Russell Westbrook continues to be making an attempt to slot in. And the Lakers nonetheless really feel so incomplete — partly as a result of accidents are an issue and partly as a result of offseason strikes haven’t paid off.
The shortage of gamers who positively affect the Lakers on offense and protection has been a near-fatal flaw. Frank Vogel has swung between extra offensive-inclined lineups and extra defensive lineups. Neither have been persistently efficient, with the Lakers committing extra to small-ball lineups with Davis and James at middle as a result of every other alternative handcuffs the offense an excessive amount of (and, frankly, doesn’t essentially transfer the needle on protection).
And whereas the Lakers haven’t let the on-court issues make the group seem to be a depressing bunch, it’s straightforward to see that frustrations are beginning to pile on.
Gamers and coaches have criticized the Lakers for his or her effort. Sunday, Malik Monk was the newest to see the group was too informal. Westbrook and Dwight Howard have made the identical declare after the group was walloped in Denver. Vogel has brazenly talked about it. And privately, gamers have expressed some anger that the group hasn’t been capable of determine this out.
And there’s Westbrook, who started this journey contemporary off a benching within the fourth towards the Pacers. He responded by taking part in properly, averaging 22 factors on 53.5% taking pictures with 6.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists.
“By no means surrender or give in,” Westbrook stated.
However after James injured his knee, the Lakers misplaced three in a row regardless of his robust video games — extra affirmation that the issues with Westbrook on the Lakers are even higher than how he performs. It’s that his presence on the roster meant three succesful rotation gamers needed to be despatched out, leaving the Lakers with out the monetary flexibility to exchange them.
It’ll be on Westbrook to maintain, if not even add, to his stage of play within the final two weeks as soon as James comes again, the group needing its three finest gamers to be on the identical web page as shortly as attainable.
Possibly the Lakers can pull off some magic earlier than the Feb. 10 commerce deadline, however with restricted assets, it’s extra possible that they’ll be misplaced to buy the buyout marketplace for assist — and never the sort of place the place groups usually make excessive affect strikes.
The group has 5 video games to determine it out heading into the deadline and one other two earlier than the break, however there hasn’t been a lot to counsel that they may.
The outcomes, the questions and the solutions after these video games are all the identical. Even the rooms, the Lakers on this predictable path in direction of mediocrity till they modify it.
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