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Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons in Game 2 win over Portland Trail Blazers!

Ronald Agers|
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 20: The Los Angeles Lakers bench reacts after a basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half in game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 20, 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 Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 20: The Los Angeles Lakers bench reacts after a basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half in game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 20, 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 Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

To all the Los Angeles Lakers fans that don’t know the difference between collecting stats and dominating a game…this is domination! 

It’s really easy to see if fans actually watch the games or do they watch highlights on YouTube or read the box scores. With a game one stat line of 28 points, 11 rebounds (6 offensive!), 2 blocks, 2 steals and one assist with 17 free throws, if the game wasn’t watched it would look dominating. Looking closer….

  • AD scored 21 points in the first half.
  • He scored 28 points on 8-24 shooting.
  • He missed 5 free throws.
  • Most irritating was he allowed Josuf Nurkic, Wenyen Gabriel and Hassan Whiteside be a factor. 

This website can’t possible describe how badly Anthony Davis DESTROYED the Portland Trail Blazers big men in game two. Video is not enough but we can try.

Anthony Davis handed out business cards dropping a game-high 31 points on 13-21 shooting. He shot 3-4 shooting from the land of the extra point. He also found time to add 11 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block in under 30 minutes.

These reports have been critical of Davis’ play because he can do this every game if he wanted to. Bottom line, the Trail Blazers’ big men can’t defend him when he’s handling the ball and driving to the basket.

Just watch what he does here to Hassan Whiteside.

  • NBA pundits were glowing of Hassan Whiteside’s play this season. This is how he can be eliminated. Play hard.
  • When Markieff Morris misses the corner 3 pointer, watch AD jump over Whiteside to get the rebound then dunk the ball with force. How many missed layups did AD miss in the previous game? Whiteside was a total non factor all night.

Now we have a play where he took Whiteside outside where he was useless and a play where he gave Josuf Nurkic a BBQ chicken alert.

  • In the first play you see Hassan Whiteside camped out in the paint allowing AD ample time to knock down the 3 point shot. Most of the shots from distance was at Whiteside’s expense. A great adjustment by Frank Vogel (More on him later!).
  • The second play basically took the wind out of the Blazers sails. This was a part of a 19-4 run to end things early for the Blazers. Watch how AD hits Nurkic with a crossover, drives his shoulder through him for the lay up and the foul.   
  • Fun fact: Josuf Nurkic was driven back sliding to the wall! 

When Anthony Davis is not settling for fadeaway jumpers and drives into the lane on every possession, the Portland Trail Blazers can’t stop him. It doesn’t matter if Damian Lillard regains his hot hand. The question going forward is, can the Los Angeles Lakers expect this every game going forward? It’s a question Lake Show Life asked David Grubb, who covered him when he was with the Pelicans.

We’ll see on Saturday.

Let’s all turn the page and say it together in your best Dr. Frankenstein voice…THEY ARE ALIVE! THEY ARE ALIVE!

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