The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most talented teams in the NBA. Anthony Davis and LeBron James are a true superstar duo, D'Angelo Russell is a former All-Star, Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves are young and productive, and the second unit has untapped potential.
Unfortunately, as Davis has known all season, the Lakers' talent only counts for so much due to the inconsistent quality beyond the superstar line.
Davis has been playing at an MVP-caliber level, leading the NBA in scoring and continuing to thrive on the defensive end of the floor. Thus far, he's averaging 32.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.6 steals on 57.1 percent shooting from the field.
Unfortunately, the Lakers sit at 4-4 due to the team's painful inconsistency beyond Davis—a truth that James learned during Los Angeles' first game without The Brow.
James was exceptional against the Memphis Grizzlies, pouring in 39 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and a steal on 15-of-24 shooting. He buried six three-point field goals and even went toe-to-toe with Ja Morant in a highlight sequence.
Unfortunately, the Lakers' defense and effort were lost without Davis—and James faced the reality of just how hard it's been for his co-star to lead without consistent support.
Superstar dominates, other Lakers falter—the current formula
Los Angeles began the season at 3-0, but it went 1-4 during its recent five-game road trip to even the measure at 4-4. It's only been eight games, but the journey away from home has seen the Lakers slowly depart from the creative motion offense and infectious defensive energy that defined their early wins.
The clash with the Grizzlies was no different, as James' 39-point performance failed to mask the Lakers' flaws during a brutal 131-114 loss.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick was visibly frustrated, walking out of his post-game press conference and revealing his dismay with his team's effort and energy. It's likely the product of frustration that's been building throughout the early stages of the 2024-25 regular season.
Los Angeles revealed its potential with wins over the likes of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, and Sacramento Kings, but has since abandoned the approach that got it off to a 3-0 start.
The silver lining is that the three consecutive wins to start the season created a cushion for the Lakers to fall back on. The harsh reality, however, is that the team has lost much of its luster since blowing an 18-point lead during the Oct. 28 loss to the Suns.
It's understandable for a deflating loss to impact the rest of a brutal five-game road trip, but the clash with Memphis was an all-too-familiar display of a superstar going off with minimal support behind them.
There were some reasons for optimism, including the oft-maligned second unit stepping up with 33 combined points. That includes Cam Reddish posting a season-high 15, and Max Christie bouncing back with a strong all-around performance.
The game was likely to be lost the second starters Davis and Rui Hachimura were ruled out, but the manner in which the Lakers fell to the Grizzlies was still a harsh reminder of how far the team has fallen since 3-0.