Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Lessons from the win over the Philadelphia 76ers

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Tobias Harris #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against Kyle Kuzma #0 and Markieff Morris #88 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Staples Center on March 03, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Tobias Harris #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against Kyle Kuzma #0 and Markieff Morris #88 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Staples Center on March 03, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /

Here are three lessons from the win against the Philadelphia 76ers for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Los Angeles Lakers started their toughest week of the season on Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers that will go a long way in silencing the critics of the team being able to beat the NBA’s title contenders. Tuesday started a three-game gauntlet of teams that the Lakers haven’t beaten this season.

The Lakers welcomed the Sixers to the Staples Center without three of their major players in Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and Josh Richardson. A game like this will do little to change anyone’s opinion of the Los Angeles Lakers and their concerns about the elite teams. Like the Golden State game last week, the Lakers appeared to be a step behind the Sixers to start the game, falling behind by as much as 13 points. The Anthony Davis reminded everyone in Staples Center how convenient it is to possess the power of one or two superstars on a NBA team.

A quick flip of the switch with 18 points in the second quarter by Anthony Davis making all seven of his second-quarter shots (Including three shots from distance!), which included a crossover dribble to put Raul Neto in a blender and made a smoothie out him while singing “Float on” to  Al Horford along the way.

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1235056431193157632

The Lakers seemed to be singing backup as the team overall made 17 of their 19 shots during the impressive streak to end the first half. To finish the half, the Lakers blew the game open with an absurd 34-10 run ending with a vicious LeBron James block.

https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/1235056318840328193

Anthony Davis didn’t let up in the second half as the Lakers extended their massive run to 42-10 overall into the 3rd quarter. This game should have been over quickly so the stars could rest but bad habits surfaced to start the fourth to allow the lead to evaporate to single digits.

The narrative of the Lakers offense grinding to a halt without LeBron James will live on another day as he had to come back in to make sure the game was in hand.  In the end the Los Angeles Lakers held off the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers 120-107 on Tuesday night.

But like Lake Show Life says in all of these post game reports, a win is a win.

  • The Lakers have now won their second game in a row building on an exciting win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night. 
  • The Lakers boost their record to 47-13 which keeps them still six games in the loss column ahead of the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers.
  • They’ve won nine out of their last ten games which extends to a very impressive 13 out of the last 15. 

The Lakers now get two days off before they host the Milwaukee Bucks for their second and final matchup of the season. With the media trying to make the MVP race close between Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron, we have a good idea that he will give a full effort.

For the rest of us that sees the big picture, the Lakers need to prove that they can get a quality win over a true contender.

Lake Show Life Lessons starts with Anthony Davis, who really showed out in this game.