Anthony Davis Discussion: That's Why They Pay Me The Big Bucks

Nicely said. Went to my first Laker game in '74 (7 years old) so I'm right there with ya.

I think Westbrook actually makes THT look like he's in total control in comparison. As for the roster revamp, I couldn't and still can't get behind Westbrook but I think evaluating our roster which has been minus THT, Ariza, Kendrick Dunn and even LBJ now for 8 games, is a little premature Also bear in mind that it's a playoff team and when they do decide to lock down on D we will be much improved. The loss of THT and Ariza alone has been a gaping hole in our small forward D leaving us with 195lb Bazemore to cover that area.

And if we had shot 40% from 3 we win this game, pure and simple.18% from 3 won't cut it. Bulls crushed it, s!*t happens.

 

Wouldn't we all love to see the Lakers hit from 3 at 40% every game. The Bulls clogged the paint really well, then actually got out and contested our 3s when the ball kicked out: that's what a well-coached YOUNG team does.

That said, the Lakers had another one of those 3rd quarters. The 2nd half started, and we all held our breath hoping this wouldn't continue. It did. It was a drag. Embarrassing. When you keep getting blown out in the 3rd, it's probably because you're either too old or haven't been playing together long enough. Or both. It's both. It quickly becomes garbage time and you see all the dour faces on the bench.

BTW: Zach Levine is a thrill to watch. Who knew the dunk contest winner would become such a knock-down outside shooter? At times his form reminds me of MJ.

I watched this Bulls team get their a**** handed to them the other night by the GSW. The way GSW rebuilt around Curry, Klay and Draymond puts the Lakers FO to shame. Again: embarrassing.

The real nadir for this Lakers team will be when both AD and Lebron are injured. Holy s*** that's gonna be depressing. And you know it will happen. (I hope not!...but I think it will.)

 

I’m seriously questioning whether AD possesses the type of leadership qualities needed to lead a team post-Lebron.

 

He doesn't. He's a great player though. We need to pair him with Luka and move past C Bags asap...

 

It's an up-down game, we shot 48.4% from 3 the previous game, I refuse to be a fatalist, I've got friends like that if anyone thinks we are going to walk into the playoffs playing like we have at times so far, they're mistaken, Assuming we can maintain health (and I realize that's easier said then done) we'll be fine.

GSW does look good and Klay is returning, big problems for the West.

 

That’s a good thing though, he might not be able to help himself and will blame his teammates again, because was bodied by a 6’5 190 guy like Derrick Jones Jr.

 

Terrible game last night and I place the loss mostly at his feet.

This team goes as far as he takes us. He has to dominate match ups like last night especially with LeBron out.

 

ah, we lost so AD sucks again.

looked like they wisely doubled him hard and we missed every shot we took from beyond the arc.

also, all the non-defenders we brought in still don't defend well? who'da thunk it?

 

simply doesn't work that way. and iirc, they were playing him with a bigger guy. AD usually takes advantage of his quickness against that, but you can't when 3 guys are ready to come rake at the ball or take a charge once you beat your guy.

my issue with AD early was he didn't set the tone defensively, including getting rookie back-doored for an easy layup on one trip (very atypical for AD).

but on offense, he can't do much against a packed paint other than launch jumpers, which people hate.

 

Yeah. I’m being tough here but only because I still believe he’s right there with the best in the league when he’s firing on all cylinders. When guys weren’t hitting shots I’d have liked to see him be more assertive especially against smaller players.

That was a big game against a good team. We needed prime AD to have a chance and we didn’t get it.

 

I definitely would be less critical if he did more defensively.

 

yeah, i stopped watching after the first quarter because it was clear we didn't plan on defending with any intensity, and AD was certainly part of that.

i didn't see any problems with his offensive game, tbh. you have to take what they give you to some extent. this idea that you can just force the issue is wrong. when the warriors beat us, we took curry out of the game, and his teammates capitalized on his gravity. the rest of the lakers couldn't capitalize on the attention chicago paid to AD, and a lot of it just came down to missing shots.

chicago does have two very good perimeter defenders out there making AD's first pass out of the double team much more difficult, too. i remember when we had that...

 

I usually defend AD.

Yesterday, he looked like he didn't want to be there.

Now? As another poster pointed out last page, s lot of what could be fixed is schematic.

Frank hasn't fixed it for 2 years according to Cranjis.

 

the solution wasn't obvious to me watching what chicago was doing in the 1st. i mean, other than making a few threes to keep the help honest.

it seems the lakers changed some things offensively to start the third, but i didn't see what they did.

 

Realizing he's wasting part of his prime with this old roster might do that to him

 

he's clearly upset about something lately. guessing we'll find out about it at some point later on. it's unlike AD to get tossed.

when he fouled derozan on the three in the first quarter and then barked at the ref, that was also very unusual for him, imo.

i think one thing he's mad about is guys not being able to get it together defensively. guessing he feels like folks aren't putting forth effort there and it's all falling on him. and he's mostly right on that account. remember he was really talking up reaves before. what is that reaves was doing?

 

Maybe.

I think he's been fine for most of the season.

Yesterday, he just seemed off.