There are solely a dozen video games left within the common season for the Los Angeles Lakers after Saturday’s 108-93 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. And though the defending champions have been enjoying collectively for greater than 4 months because the begin of coaching camp, Lakers star Anthony Davis stated the vital juncture the group finds itself in looks like an entire reset.
“It is such as you’re beginning over with the blokes and simply looking for a reference to these guys once more,” Davis stated after his first two video games again from a nine-week absence amounted to going 7-for-29 from the sphere in two losses. “They’re looking for a reference to me. So, it is like we’re ranging from zero, which is hard so late within the season.”
Davis’ return from a calf pressure and Achilles tendinosis in his proper leg did not give L.A. the instant carry it hoped for. The Lakers are at the moment on a three-game dropping streak, and with two of these defeats coming towards Dallas, they now maintain a precarious 1½-game lead over the Mavs for the No. 5 seed within the Western Convention standings.
Davis scored 17 factors in 28 minutes on Saturday and shot simply 5-for-19 whereas doing so — together with a 1-for-5 mark within the fourth quarter, when Dallas outscored the Lakers 29-14 to show a tied recreation after three right into a blowout.
“We have to have the ability to get some wins,” he stated, looking forward to the ultimate two video games of their highway journey towards the Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards. “This was robust for us. Orlando and D.C. are should wins for us, for certain.”
The choice would seemingly be disastrous; the Magic are 23 video games beneath .500, and Washington is seven video games beneath, however has gone 9-1 in its final 10 video games.
Additionally chasing the Lakers are the Portland Trail Blazers (2½ video games again), at the moment within the No. 7 spot. Seed Nos. 7-10 will take part in a play-in event to earn the ultimate two postseason berths on the conclusion of the common season. The upper-seeded groups within the 7 vs. 10 and eight vs. 9 matchups might want to win one recreation earlier than the lower-seeded groups can win two with a purpose to advance.
Whereas Lakers coach Frank Vogel stated earlier than the sport, “truthfully, the standings do not actually matter to us,” and Kyle Kuzma echoed him afterward by saying, “it issues for lots of different groups within the league. … I do not assume it issues a lot for us,” maybe L.A. ought to take heed. Particularly with level guard Dennis Schroder admitting after the Dallas loss that L.A. could be in adjustment mode with Davis’ reintegration and LeBron James‘ yet-to-happen return, “even in all probability some video games within the playoffs.”
In the event that they’re anticipating the recalibration interval to final that lengthy, securing the No. 6 seed or increased will deliver with it the respiration room of a assured seven-game sequence, moderately than hoping these tweaks do not change into problematic in a play-in situation.
Vogel already made one adjustment to his rotation on Saturday, retaining Montrezl Harrell on the bench all recreation for the primary time all season with a DNP. Whereas the transfer was meant to release minutes for Marc Gasol at backup heart, even Gasol acknowledged how tough the change was.
“It isn’t a really perfect scenario for anyone,” he stated. “We have now a really deep group, and if Coach desires to play three guys or two guys for one spot, it should take quite a lot of shopping for in.”
When questioned whether or not Vogel’s communication helped him navigate his personal private stretch of three straight DNPs previous to Saturday, he quipped, “You guys are asking the fallacious man. It is Coach’s resolution. It is Coach’s name. … So do not ask me. I simply work right here.”
It is as if Davis’ return solidified simply how way more work the Lakers must do to get themselves proper earlier than they are often checked out as high contenders once more. Davis’ mere presence wasn’t an instantaneous panacea. James’ eventual return — which might nonetheless be per week or two away — may not be, both.
“We’ll speak about it,” Schroder stated, acknowledging the kinks that have to be ironed out. “I feel when Bron comes again, we’ll have a dialog as a group. As a result of our chemistry, like AD stated, off the court docket is nice. However on the court docket, we simply obtained to show it up some extra.”
Certainly, they’ll try to show it up extra with much less and fewer time remaining within the common season earlier than the video games actually matter and their repeat title bid is on the road.
“You have to attempt to determine it out on the fly,” Davis stated, “which we’ll must do.”