Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron and AD shine in loss to Mavs — 5 lessons!
By Ronald Agers
![LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 01: LeBron James #23 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers while playing the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on January 1, 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. Lakers won 117 to 107. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 01: LeBron James #23 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers while playing the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on January 1, 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. Lakers won 117 to 107. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/5c90216d06ccbc8b5ad8ab6e76ce0f61d150256ba6f643b00e3f62a04ada678f.jpg)
For now, Dion Waiters is doing exactly what the Los Angeles Lakers want him to do!
Now that Rajon Rondo is out of the mix for the Los Angeles Lakers, Dion Waiters will take his place as the most polarizing player covered on Lake Show Life. To Lakers fans, there are two sides. Either you believe in Waiters or not. There are no gray areas, just areas to pray. For this game, the believers have the voice in the room
Dion Waiters made a positive impact in his debut, scoring nine points (On 3-7 shooting!) and knocking a buzzer-beater to end the first quarter. That applies as the most Dion Waiters signature shot he could possibly take.
Lakers Nation: Meet Dion Waiters pic.twitter.com/h0lIBzbw8e
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 23, 2020
Dion Waiters apologists will say that he should be able to ease James’ ballhandling load a bit with Rajon Rondo being out. This game did little to show that. There was talk around the broadcast team that the playmaking will be done by committee. It will have to be.
When LeBron and AD sat out, the offense fell off the cliff. Sure the Lakers will struggle in the minutes without James and Davis on the floor. But there is no way the stars can build up an 11-point lead at halftime, only to manufacture 13 points while the Mavs (Who’s bench is atrocious!) run up 27 to start the second half.
Sure the score looked good at the end behind a charge from J.R. Smith and Quinn Cook in the closing minutes, but Dion Waiters has shown he can get his shot and make shots. Now he needs to show playmaking abilities to get his teammates easy shots. One assist? Nope. Not gonna get it.
Now about that defense. Anybody miss Avery Bradley yet?