It was all within the rights of the Los Angeles Lakers to tie the series in the second of the Western finals. However, the Lakers ended the game with a disappointing score of 109-103 on the road. If LA had leveled the score on the road, they would have gained the same advantage they had over the Warriors and Grizzlies. The team had 11 points lead in the third quarter thanks to Rui Hachimura, who scored 17 in the first half for his team. But the team could not sustain the lead due to many factors discussed below in the article.
The two superstars, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, lacked focus on the night in the game’s last quarter. It was inevitable that a team like the Nuggets would knock on the Lakers’ door for a lethal comeback. They are the best-attacking team in the Western Conference. But the Lakers put up a lethargic performance which led to a slip in their game, ultimately causing them a chance to win. These could be the side effects of the long season that the Lakers have been through. But the fans expect more from the team, especially from LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Lakers Fans Point Fingers At AD
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The 29-year-old is doing everything in his will to make a difference in the team to reach the finals. But there have been a lot of inconsistencies in his performances during this playoff. He was good in the first half of the game, dominating both ends of the court. But the spark significantly dropped in the second half of the game. His ability in the offensive and defensive ends was questionable sometimes. This could be the fatigue that would have made the decision-making harder on him.
On the offensive end of the court, AD and James were missing the shots from the range. Davis also had difficulties converting some necessary chances from the paint. This gave many opportunities for the Nuggets to come alive in the game. But Davis also failed to counter them on the defense, making silly mistakes. The fans also accused him of having a passive approach towards the game. In the postgame interview, he accepted his mistakes and said, “I’ll be better.“
Was Anthony Davis Bad?
Statistically, the eight-time All-star scored 18 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and four turnovers. In the postgame interview, Anthony Davis accepted that he got all the eyeballs in the stadium. “Liked all the looks I got today,” Davis said. His shots were all short, and he wants to come back stronger. He displayed a strong game in game 1, scoring a huge 40 points.
If the Lakers wish to make an impact in the Crypto Arena, they will have to get their superstars to speed. Otherwise, the Nuggets can walk all over them, even in home games. Moreover, Darvin Ham must also change his tactics to tackle the best attackers. If he does not keep the Nuggets quiet, they will keep making a comeback.
