(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
After an impressive Game 1 performance against the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies, the Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t follow up with another win in Game 2 even though they didn’t have to deal with guarding superstar Ja Morant.
The Grizzlies manhandled the Lakers in Game 2 in Memphis without their superstar running the show, which doesn’t bode well for the Lakers as the series heads to Los Angeles for Game 3 and Game 4.
Anthony Davis was a nonfactor in Game 2, and so were D’Angelo Russell and most of the supporting cast, while LeBron James jacked up threes to keep the team within striking distance but failed going 1-for-8 from deep.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back his thoughts on the Lakers’ Game 2 performance and believes Davis should shoulder the blame.
He called the Lakers’ performance “shameful.”
.@stephenasmith calls the Lakers’ performance in Game 2 “shameful”
“The one person that you were supposed to be able to rely upon … was Anthony Davis and he was a no-show. Period.” pic.twitter.com/C4XWanxuH5
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 20, 2023
Outside of injuries, one of the most significant issues for the Lakers this season has been the inability to play consistently well.
The Lakers have been very inconsistent during the 2022-23 campaign, and that has now carried over to the NBA playoffs.
Many people are starting to doubt that James and company can compete with the best of the best in the Western Conference in a seven-game series, with inconsistent teams always getting the boot early in the postseason.
Fortunately for Los Angeles, the next two games will be played at Crypto.com Arena with an opportunity to bounce back and take control of this series before it returns to Memphis for Game 5.
Game 3 will be a statement game for the Lakers, especially if Morant isn’t ready to get back on the floor for Memphis.
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