Los Angeles Lakers: Lessons and AD Achilles discussion from Denver loss

It depends on which half you want to read about. The first half (With AD!) or the second half (Without AD!)?

It was the tale of two stretches for LeBron James. There was the first half and the second half. There was the LeBron James before Anthony Davis got hurt and the LeBron James AFTER Anthony Davis got hurt.

Boy the difference was like night and day.

The first half: 

LeBron James was embarrassing the Denver Nuggets with the ease of how he was playing. He extended his 15+ points 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists streak to 28 games by halftime. The first half was all about the efficiency and ease of how he was playing.

James even caught the Denver Nuggets napping just before halftime! He had 19 points at intermission.

The second half:

However, in the second half, he disappeared. He went scoreless until late in the third quarter when he got to the free-throw line. Eventually the game got out of hand and was over by the last quarter. LeBron finished one assist shy of a triple-double with 22 points (9-18 shooting!), 10 rebounds and 9 assists. The problem is most of those stats were accumulated in the first half.

Look, the next lesson is about numerous things concerning Anthony Davis. It has very little to do with the 15 points and 4 rebounds he got in this game. Nobody cares. The only concern is his Achilles. What will the MRI say and what’s the plan after that. Read a lesson that affects not only this season but the franchise going forward.