(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers were unable to make the Denver Nuggets pay for all the trash-talk they hurled their way in the offseason as they lost to the defending champions on opening night of the 2023-24 NBA season.
The Lakers came into the game looking much more equipped to handle the Nuggets, but the latter was able to respond any time the former made a run and keep them from ever getting close to a win.
Los Angeles got a dominant first half from Anthony Davis, who scored 17 points and played about as good of defense as one can against Nikola Jokic.
However, Davis went quiet in the second half as he failed to score a point and seemed to be floating during spurts of the game.
That sort of second-half disappearance has reared its head before, and for someone like Davis it’s inexcusable if he hopes to assume the mantle as the face of the franchise from LeBron James someday.
Some think that the media has been too hard on Davis at times, though Marcus Spears believes they’re just holding him accountable, via NBA on ESPN.
“I hate this narrative that we crucifying Anthony Davis for asking him to do something that we expect him to do,” Spears said.
“I hate this narrative that we crucifying Anthony Davis for asking him to do something that we expect him to do.”@mspears96 makes an argument that AD should be performing better. pic.twitter.com/JveyUWFFJt
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 25, 2023
Spears argues that because Davis was paid so much money he needs to deliver in the team’s critical moments.
No one denies that Davis is a dominant two-way talent who’s worth a max deal, but his lack of aggression has come back to bite the Lakers on several occasions.
What’s clear after the loss to Denver is that Los Angeles is going to need more from Davis if they want to win a title this season.
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