5. Avery Bradley is missed
The Los Angeles Lakers have battled injuries throughout the season. Despite not having their full rotation available many times this season, they are still winning games. However, the loss of Avery Bradley has been a difficult one to overcome.
Bradley wasn’t stuffing the stat sheet while on the court. He was playing a complementary role in the starting lineup, but what has been missed is his defense. Bradley and Danny Green were a great defensive combo, and without Bradley, things have not been pretty on the perimeter.
This road trip, the Lakers faced some good guards and all of them had big games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot 10-of-18 on his way to 24 points. Ja Morant went off for 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Derrick White shot 5-of-6 for 11 points, while DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting. Jrue Holiday scored 25 points in the first half, finishing the game with 29 points on 12-of-23 shooting.
NBA players are talented enough that they are going to get theirs no matter what. The scoring totals aren’t what is shocking here, it is the ease they have had scoring the ball. Those efficiency numbers are eye-popping for backcourt players and a big reason for that is Bradley not being available.
With Bradley being sidelined, Rajon Rondo has received more minutes and he has been a sieve defensively. Hopefully, Bradley can get back onto the court sooner than later to help the team get going again defensively.