The Los Angeles Lakers have not jelled as expected on either end of the floor, and injuries have not helped as Anthony Davis has previously alluded to.
When one thing works, another falls short, often resulting in an offense that can’t put pressure on opposing defenses. And their defense hasn’t been able to hold up under that pressure.
They were without LeBron James in their most recent loss, a 132-127 affair versus the Utah Jazz on January 13. But Davis was not using that as an excuse postgame, and even assigned blame for the loss.
“Everyone did their job except me. I didn’t do my job,” Davis told reporters in the locker room. “Obviously, Bron’s out. Everyone have to step up, and those guys did – except myself. So this one’s on me.”
Davis finished the game with a 15-point, 15-rebound, 11-assist triple-double – his first of the season – adding four blocks and a steаl.
In contrast, he committed six turnovers and went 0-for-5 on the floor during the fourth quarter.
Furthermore, while the Lakers limited the Jazz to 56% paint shooting, Utah held them to 72.2% in the restricted area. This includes a 3-for-3 performance from that location in a game decided by five points in the fourth quarter.
When questioned by reporters regarding the underlying cause of his lackluster performance, Davis provided a succinct two-word explanation.
“No shots,” he declared.
Davis ranked second on the team with 21 attempts, trailing only D’Angelo Russell, who was starting in place of the injured James. Davis made five of his six free throw attempts for the evening, converting the remaining five for his six points.
“He performed admirably,” Davis remarked of Russell. “He maintained a professional demeanor tonight, whether he was commencing or substitute work. His contributions galvanized us from the beginning to the end of the game. That was beneficial for both him and our team. Not clear what the lineup for the following encounter will be. However, I am certain he will be prepared to enter and exert the same level of effort.”
James and Davis both signed on to the decision by head coach Darvin Ham to remove Russell from the starting lineup. Additionally, the former’s remarks may have given Russell’s postgame remarks a fresh perspective.
D’Angelo Russell is one of them. Rationale for Anthony Davis’ Dearth of Shots in the Lakers’ Debut: Not Aiming to Be ‘Superman’
Russell stated simply, “It was enjoyable to hoop; nothing more.” This was his response while available in the locker room. “They received coverages that attempted to eliminate AD from the game, but we were able to capitalize on catch and аttаck closeouts the entire time… I thought that we shared many attractive features. “Make every effort to incorporate this aggression into your next game.”
Russell recorded a career-high 39 points on 57.7% shooting and 6-for-11 from afar, in addition to grabbing one steаl and grabbing three rebounds.
Eleven of his points came in the fourth minute.
“I desire to win each and every contest. However, he did not intend to endanger himself by attempting to become Superman or something similar. “We must achieve this objective as a group. Each individual must leave their mark on the game in order for us to achieve victory.”
Cam Reddish’s ιnjury: An Update
Achieving a collective impact on the game is challenging due to the significant number of injuries. James and Gabe Vincent, who joined the Lakers on a free agent deal and has since made five appearances this season, were both absent.
Rui Hachimura was limited to minutes due to a calf ailment that had prevented him from participating in the previous five contests.
Additionally, Cam Reddish was forced to leave the contest early due to a knee ιnjury.
“According to Darvin Ham, the Lakers’ medical staff is currently evaluating Cam Reddish,” Jovan Buha of The Athletic wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on January 13. On Monday, the team will unveil a “definitive” plan for him.