The Los Angeles Lakers are still reeling after a shocking loss to the Detroit Pistons. In a nightmarish game for the Purple and Gold, they lost the game by 12 points (115-103) thanks to an anemic performance by almost everyone.
Anthony Davis was the only beacon of light for the Lakers, finishing with a game-high 37 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists on 59.1% shooting. He was carrying the Lakers to the bitter end… until he left in the fourth quarter with a lower leg injury.
LeBron James finished with 20 points (7-16 FG), 11 assists, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals but he was looking off all night. In the final minutes, the King tried his best to carry the team after Davis left but they didn’t have enough in the tank to make another run.
The Pistons came into the game at 2-5 but they looked solid tonight with strong play on both ends of the floor against a veteran Lakers team. Jaden Ivey led his team with 26 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in 34:60 minutes (10-16 FG) while Cade Cunningham contributed 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists on 7-12 shooting.
Both teams came into the game with wildly different ambitions but it’s clear after tonight that they may not be as far apart as some fans assumed. For the Lakers in particular, a number of problems have surfaced after their first few games, and their flaws as a team are getting more noticeable with each loss.
The Stars Are Compromised
The Lakers can only go as far as their stars take them and tonight was a disaster for the star duo. LeBron James, despite dropping a near triple-double, did not shoot well by his standards. He went 7-16 from the field and 1-2 from three-point range. He was -16 in 40 minutes. Instead of sharing the ball and making plays like usual, James often resorted to isolation ball on offense and spent much of the shot clock backing down his opponent for baseline fadeaway.
To make matters worse, Anthony Davis turned his ankle toward the end of the fourth quarter and he had to be escorted off the floor in pain. With his health compromised yet again, it begs the question of whether Davis will be at full strength when the Lakers need him the most. Tonight, while he certainly carried his weight, it may have cost him his good health.
It’s easy to forget now, but this Lakers duo has been together since 2019, and after so long of dominating side-by-side it can be hard to accept that they’re in decline. But clearly, between health and inconsistent play on the court, they are not what they used to be.
Non-Anthony Davis Minutes Are Brutal
This season, the Lakers were hoping to get some quality minutes from Jaxson Hayes to step up as the backup center but he’s still a work in progress and the Lakers’ depth doesn’t leave a lot of other options. They were -12 in the 9 minutes without Davis on the floor and had three bench players scoreless in the game.
Together, the Lakers’ second unit combined for just 10 points off the bench and only further validated the theories of a lack of depth. Even with the new draftees, the Lakers have mostly the same problem as last season, and it has to do with a lack of a reliable supporting cast.
Without proper front-court rotation, the Lakers can’t keep up when Anthony Davis is out and they can’t help support him with more size and physicality under the rim. Of course, their backcourt is where the biggest defensive issues lie and it could only get worse from here.
No Defense In The Backcourt
The Lakers won the title in 2020 based on their defense and, even now, that end of the floor is widely considered to be the key to their success. In this game, however, we saw how far they have fallen in that category. Specifically, it’s their own backcourt that is making life difficult for the Lakers.
The Pistons’ backcourt combined for 43 points in the game and they often had no problem getting to their spots. While Autin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell have never been known as great defenders, their inability to stop anyone is really hurting the team right now and it could block them from any further success in the West, especially since it contains star guards like Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, and Luka Doncic.
If the Lakers can’t offer some resistance in the backcourt, it’s going to be a rough season for them but there’s a reason why the fans are begging for a trade. Until then, all the Lakers can do is move on and focus on the next game ahead.
After tonight’s easy win against the Pistons, the Lakers will prepare themselves for a showdown against the Grizzlies on Wednesday night, at 8 PM EST time.
That game will finally mark the end of their early season road trip (1-3 current road record), and their next three games are at Crypto.com Arena against the 76ers (Friday, Nov. 8), the Raptors (Sunday, Nov. 11), and the Grizzlies (Wednesday, Nov. 13).
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