The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled for the majority of the season, but after their trade deadline, many were optimistic about their chances to make the playoffs. After all, the team got a number of solid young players, essentially retooling on the fly.
However, recent events have dampened people’s overall outlook on the Los Angeles Lakers. As of right now, LeBron James might end up missing extended time, though he did avoid surgery. Thus, they have to find a way to win without him. That is easier said than done, however. Obviously, LeBron James’ impact is hard to replace for the Los Angeles Lakers, as he is the centerpiece of their offense, averaging 29.5 PPG, 8.4 RPG, and 6.9 APG while shooting 50.1% from the field.
There are definitely some players that will have to take on bigger roles for the Los Angeles Lakers to win during LeBron James’ absence. That is the only way that the team will survive his coming stretch of games. The two key players that will be discussed in this article are D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Davis.
D’Angelo Russell Will Have To Play Like An All-Star
D’Angelo Russell is one of the better starting point guards in the league, and there is no doubt that he is having a solid year overall. Thus far, D’Angelo Russell is averaging 17.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 6.2 APG, while shooting a blistering 39.1% from the 3PT range. With LeBron James out, he will need to take on a bigger role to keep the Lakers afloat and help them at least make the play-in tournament. He was a No. 3 option on the Timberwolves and will be the No. 3 option on the Lakers with everyone healthy. Now, however, the team needs him to step up.
What the Los Angeles Lakers will need from D’Angelo Russell is an increase in offensive production. He was an All-Star-level player with the Brooklyn Nets, averaging 21.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 7.0 APG while shooting 36.9% from the 3PT range. He may not have to score as much as he did in Brooklyn in this upcoming stretch for the Los Angeles Lakers, as Anthony Davis is the No. 1 option on the Lakers right now. But he should still seek to be aggressive and take the looks that he’s comfortable with. The Los Angeles Lakers need him to be the All-Star he once was so that they can be a competitive team without their superstar.
A fair expectation would be expecting the point guard to run the offense, space the floor, and get crucial crunch-time buckets. Without LeBron James, Russell is now the best perimeter shot creator on the team, and also their best passer. The key for him will be to develop chemistry with Anthony Davis in the pick-and-roll, and he’ll also need to run the offense and get open shots for role players on the team. Hopefully, we see D’Angelo Russell rise up to the challenge.
Anthony Davis Has To Embrace Being The No. 1 Option
Many expected Anthony Davis to be the No. 1 option for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, and for good reason. The big man is absolutely dominant on both ends of the floor, and there’s no doubt that Davis is a game-changing superstar when he’s healthy. He has had problems with his availability this season but has been elite when on the court, averaging 25.8 PPG, 12.6 RPG, and 2.1 BPG for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Though others like D’Angelo Russell will have to step up for the Los Angeles Lakers to make the playoffs, Anthony Davis will have the most pressure on him. He was playing like an MVP earlier in the season, and Davis will have to have the same mentality over the last stretch of the season. Anthony Davis’ performances will determine whether the Los Angeles Lakers will make the playoffs or not, and we need to see him develop consistency both on the court and in terms of his availability for the team.
It is a tough task for any one player to carry a team on both ends of the floor. It is taxing on the body and the mind, and there are only a few players that really make an insane impact on both ends of the floor. With that being said, Anthony Davis absolutely has the talent to be one of those players, so long as he stays healthy. For the rest of the season, we need to see Anthony Davis look like the best player on the court in every game the Los Angeles Lakers play. LeBron James might not end up saving the Lakers this season: the team is already preparing for him to be potentially out for the rest of the regular season. It is Anthony Davis’ time to carry the torch and become the leader of the Lakers.
Anthony Davis And D’Angelo Russell Can Win A Good Amount Of Games Together
Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell have the necessary talent on the roster to make the playoffs, whether it be through the play-in tournament or otherwise. It will take a team effort, but in the NBA, stars determine who wins games a lot of the time. Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell are star-level players, and it is up to them to step up.
The Los Angeles Lakers actually have a decent roster even without LeBron James: the stage is set for the two stars to succeed. Jarred Vanderbilt for example is a defensive-minded big man who excels at guarding all five positions and is one of the best rebounders in the league for the PF position. Rui Hachimura is a two-way player who thrives in the midrange and has the size and length to guard star forwards. Malik Beasley is an elite 3PT specialist, capable of quickly heating up and scoring in a hurry from beyond the arc. Austin Reaves is a swiss-knife, capable of doing a little bit of everything.
There is no doubt that the Los Angeles Lakers will need to be at their best for the rest of the season to get to where they want to be. There is still a pathway to the playoffs this year, but whether they get there will be determined by whether their stars can mitigate the loss of LeBron James.
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