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Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons in a bad loss to the OKC Thunder!

By Ronald Agers

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 05: Nerlens Noel #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder is defended by Danny Green #14 and JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 05, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 05: Nerlens Noel #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder is defended by Danny Green #14 and JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 05, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Anthony Davis playing well is the Los Angeles Lakers’ only chance in the playoffs! 

The Los Angeles Lakers’ championship hopes begin and end with Anthony Davis. If you follow the site, you have a thorough understanding of LeBron James being the face of the team, the NBA and promotion for broadcast. Cool. No need to go down that road again.

But if anybody that follows this team and pays attention knows this is last year’s version of the roster without Davis and it is not even close. Now it’s time for Anthony Davis to understand his importance to this franchise.

  • That he has to show up and put up monster numbers every night.
  • He has to be aggressive and shake that soft label that has followed him to Los Angeles.
  • He has to get established early and get into a rhythm with an offense that shot 32.5% in the game.
  • He has to open up space for shooters that can’t throw in the ocean if they were neck deep in the water.
  • Realize he hasn’t signed that max deal and it’s time to show the fans (NBA and Lakers!) that he is the best player in the world. 

After a dominant performance where he basically threw Rudy Gobert in a broom closet and ate his dinner, he followed up with another clunker. Nine points, five assists and eight rebounds while making three of 11 from the field. To put this in perspective, he shot 14 times in the first quarter against the Utah Jazz.

There are factors that contribute to this performance besides the fact that AD wasn’t aggressive.

The Lakers went through Davis in the Utah game and 42 points later, we found out it worked.

Several possessions in this game, he did not even touch the ball.

He played poor defense at times.

Maybe this was to get a timeout quickly because Caldwell-Pope injured his ribs on the play, but fouling is an option too.

The message is clear.

When Anthony Davis is inspired the Los Angeles Lakers are a championship contender.

When he’s not, the Los Angeles Lakers are a first round upset to the Portland Trail Blazers contender.

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