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Los Angeles Lakers: What’s really going on with Andre Drummond

By Ronald Agers

MIAMI, FL - APRIL 08: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Miami Heat blocks the shot attempt by Andre Drummond #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of the game at American Airlines Arena on April 8, 2021 in Miami, 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 Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 08: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Miami Heat blocks the shot attempt by Andre Drummond #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of the game at American Airlines Arena on April 8, 2021 in Miami, 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 Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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Andre Drummond
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports – Los Angeles Lakers Andre Drummond /

There was excitement all over Lakers Nation when the Los Angeles Lakers signed Andre Drummond after being bought out by the Cleveland Cavaliers. After Andre’s coming out party in a shocking win over the Brooklyn Nets, the parade all of a sudden is getting rained on after two bad offensive performances. 

The Los Angeles Lakers signed the biggest name on the buyout market this season in former all-star center, Andre Drummond. While Drummond certainly has his detractors, there is no debate that he was the most prolific name on the market.

Signing Drummond was exactly what the team needed, filling a serious need at the center position with the best option available.

Things have been up and times during Drummond’s short tenure with the Lakers. There has been a slow decline offensively with averages of 9.2 points on 45 percent shooting in five games. His offense has bottomed out at 3.5 points per game in the last two contests.

But here’s where all the issues started for Andre Drummond on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Other than the 8-15 shooting effort against the Nets, Andre Drummond has shot 10-25 (40 percent) from the field and he’s turned the ball over 15 times in five games. He’s rebounding at the rate that he’s known for (9.2 rebounds in 22.6 minutes), but his efficiency issues are starting to show.

The storyline on Tuesday should have been the Lakers avoiding disaster with a 4-3 record with a 101-93 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

Instead, it was this quote from the Lakers prized free agent via ESPN that made news around Lakers Nation after his 4 point performance.

"“Offensively, this is probably the worst I’ve played in my career,” Drummond said postgame Tuesday, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “I’m still trying to figure it out here. I’m not allowing it to take me out of my game. I know why I’m here, which is to help this team defensively. Offensively, it will come for me.”"

This came after a 1-3, 3 point contribution in a Lakers loss to the New York Knicks.

The span marked the second-fewest points in back-to-back games for Drummond when he’s played at least 20 minutes in each matchup, per ESPN Stats & Information.

Frank Vogel weighed in on Drummond’s struggles in the last two games.

"“We just have to take what the defense gives us, which was a lot of perimeter shots, a lot of drive-and-kick situations, and it didn’t result in Drum having a high point total,” Vogel added about the Lakers’ last two opponents."

With Andre Drummond sitting out the loss against the Boston Celtics with Marc Gasol scoring a season-high 18 points in his absence could start a controversy in the coming weeks.

Has the league figured out that packing the paint and forcing Andre Drummond to go against two or three defenders is the strategy to shut him down? The Knicks and Hornets not only held Drummond to 3.5 points per game, but also outrebounded the Lakers 47–33 and 45–38 while dominating them in points in the paint 54–38 and 50–32.

If the defensive tactics that are affecting Drummond’s offensive game are working in conjunction with the Lakers being totally dominated in the paint, it doesn’t justify the Marc Gasol benching.

The Lakers have a pair of two-game back-to-back series against the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks starting this weekend that could determine their playoff seeding. A sweep could place them into the play-in tournament.

As of now, the Lakers are fifth in the West behind the fourth-place Nuggets and the third place Clippers.

However…

  • They are only one game ahead ahead of the 6th place Blazers in the loss column.
  • Two games ahead of the seventh-place Mavericks who they play next week.
  • Four games ahead of the eighth-place Grizzlies.

For the ones counting at home, there are only 16 games left in the regular season so time is running out in a hurry. Next week could tell if the Los Angeles Lakers start the postseason on May 18th-21st or May 22nd.

Lake Show Life has a special in-depth feature on what is really going on with Andre Drummond. Is he washed as the social media casuals say? Is it a matchup problem? Is it the injury rash that has affected the entire roster?

Over the next several pages, we’ll all figure it out. Let’s go.

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