The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers </a>could’ve definitely asked for a ‘better’ reward for winning their Play-In Tournament game. Now, they’re all set for a date with the reigning <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> champions, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Nuggets</a>.



The Nuggets have beaten the Lakers eight times in a row, dating back to the Western Conference Finals. They’ve also gotten the best of them nine out of the last eleven times.



Even so, the Lakers didn’t want to take any chances and duck them by tanking against the New Orleans Pelicans. Per Anthony Davis, they’re never going to shy away from any matchup.



<h2>Anthony Davis, LeBron James Aren’t Afraid Of The Nuggets</h2>



“If they beat us, they beat us,” Anthony Davis, who also stated that he would be back to full strength ahead of Game 1 on Sunday, told The Athletic. “We’re not ducking the smoke.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240418_BUS_119824_anthonydavis-1024x576_e1e8ab21.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-118970" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/anthonydavis-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/anthonydavis-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/anthonydavis-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/anthonydavis-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/anthonydavis.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Anthony Davis of Los Angeles Lakers</figcaption></figure>



<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a>, on the other hand, is ready to leave everything on the court. He tried to stay healthy for the playoffs, so there’s no more need to be cautious anymore:



“Ain’t no more pace,” James said. “Pace yourself for what? It’s now a sprint. It’s a sprint now. We already went through the marathon. I’ll do whatever it takes. I mean, all the percentages and all that s***, it’s out the window. The season’s over. So it’s about just winning. Win the game.”



<h2>LeBron Isn’t Overly Confident.</h2>



Then again, as much as he likes the Lakers’ chances, James knows the Nuggets aren’t going to be an easy opponent to deal with, and he believes this could go down to the wire:



“It’s the defending champion,” James said. “They know what it takes. They know how to win. They’ve been extremely dominant on their home floor over the last few years. They’ve got an MVP on their team. They’ve got a closer on their team. They’ve got high-level players, high-IQ players. And they’ve got a hell of a coach. So we have to play mistake-free basketball. Make it tough on them. They’re gonna try to make it tough on us, obviously. But if we can play as great of a game as we can play, and they’re gonna play as great of a game as they play, it’s gonna come down to one or two possessions. And we’ll see who executes then.”


<div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="BUS#/nba/lebron-james-explains-how-lakers-can-beat-denver-nuggets-in-2024-nba-playoffs"></div>






The Nuggets have dominated this rivalry lately, but most of their wins have been close ones. Now, it remains to be seen whether James and the Lakers can finally turn things around.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="66212be54a1e8304516cb1d3" data-title="Who\&apos;ll win?" data-options="2"></div>

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miniaturas

<ul><li>The Lakers aren’t a championship contender.</li><li>They must plan for the future.</li><li>Some want to move on from LeBron James and Anthony Davis.</li></ul>



<h2>Lakers Executives Want A Fresh Start</h2>



The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> are in the worst possible position for any <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> team. They’re not good enough to pursue a championship, nor bad enough to tank and get a young star.



Of course, any team featuring <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Davis </a>will always have a chance to go for the big prize. Then again, they might not have enough left in the tank to uplift this team past the stacked Western Conference.



Davis has a long history of injuries, and James is 39 years old and in his 21st season. That’s why some executives would rather the team to ‘wipe the slate clean ,’ according to a report by Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports.



<h2>The Lakers Could Move On From Their Stars</h2>



“According to executives around the league, some within the Lakers prefer to see the franchise take a more conservative and, perhaps, wiser route — wipe the slate clean and start over,” reported Deveney.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240415_BUS_119057_anthonydavis-1024x576_4ccece6b.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-118970" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/anthonydavis-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/anthonydavis-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/anthonydavis-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/anthonydavis-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/anthonydavis.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Anthony Davis of Los Angeles Lakers</figcaption></figure>



<h2>They Want To Get Klutch Sports’ Influence Out Of The Team</h2>



Per the report, the Lakers could then lean towards letting LeBron James walk away in free agency and get something in return for Davis. It also adds that they want to get Rich Paul and his Klutch Sports agency out of the way:



“Let LeBron go, trade Anthony Davis, get the Klutch (Sports agency) influence out of there, collect draft picks and start over with young pieces and cap space,” one Western Conference executive told Deveney. “That is what they need. Something drastic. They’re in a loop they can’t get out of. There are more than a few people in that organization who want them to go that route but you know, they’re not at the top of the food chain.”



This isn’t much of a surprise, as Paul’s influence has rubbed people around the league the wrong way, and it seems like James and Davis have too much power over GM Rob Pelinka.



<h2>They Need A Reset</h2>



The Lakers have some talent on their roster, but they’re not going to get much better than they are right now. That’s why getting something in return for their aging stars might be the wisest decision:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240415_BUS_119057_lebronjames-2-1024x576_32ede54a.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-119006" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/lebronjames-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/lebronjames-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/lebronjames-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/lebronjames-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/lebronjames-2.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers</figcaption></figure>



“They’re not a bad team,” another executive said. “But they’re stuck. A lot of teams in the league are in the same situation. They’re 45, 46, 47-win teams but don’t have the means to get past that. The difference with the Lakers is that they’re old and they need a reset. It is probably going to get worse before it gets better. I think there are plenty of people in that building who know it, but they don’t want to say it.”


<div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="BUS#/nba/lebron-james-sends-big-warning-to-entire-nba-before-start-of-the-playoffs"></div>






At the end of the day, it might all depend on how this season turns out. But if they flame out early, this team might be forced to make some tough decisions regarding their coach and their roster.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="661d2f7f7092097f1a488139" data-title="Should the Lakers move on from LeBron and Davis?" data-options="1"></div>

NBA Rumors: Lakers want to move on from LeBron James, Anthony Davis

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The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a>, led by <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a>, took care of business in New Orleans with a 124-108 victory over the Pelicans. However, before the start of the play-in tournament, Anthony Davis alarmed thousands of fans with a back injury.



With 5:22 remaining in the fourth quarter, Davis asked coach Darvin Ham to substitute him due to discomfort in his back. After playing 76 games of the regular season, no one could believe that the star would have such bad luck at a crucial moment.



Thanks to the victory, the Lakers secured the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, and next Tuesday, they will have a rematch with Zion Williamson and the Pelicans in New Orleans. The winner of that game will play against the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets">Denver Nuggets</a> in the first round of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> playoffs.



However, at the end of the game, the only thing that mattered was knowing the status of Anthony Davis for another championship run.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240414_BUS_118969_lebronjames-1024x576_10485bb9.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-115800" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/lebronjames-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/lebronjames-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/lebronjames-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/lebronjames-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/lebronjames.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>LeBron James cannot afford to lose Anthony Davis in the playoffs (Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Will Anthony Davis be ready for the playoffs?</h2>



Anthony Davis confirmed that he will be available next Tuesday for the start of the play-in tournament against the New Orleans Pelicans. Although he acknowledged feeling spasms, AD will not miss the most important game of the season.







“I feel good. The back just like locked up on me. Nothing concerning. I was in the air, so obviously it’s a dangerous play. Yeah, no doubt that I’m going to play on Tuesday. Just some treatment, see how it feels and get ready for Tuesday.”


<div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="BUS#/nba/nba-news-lebron-james-announces-retirement-will-come-very-soon"></div>

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The 2023-24 NBA regular season is coming to an end and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> have work to do ahead of the playoffs. While the team is facing plenty of questions, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis">Anthony Davis</a> made it clear he feels great and is optimistic for the future.



“I think we’re in a great place,” Davis said after shootaround Friday morning ahead of the Grizzlies game, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “The two games that we lost, I played a quarter and then LeBron [James] didn’t play one. So there’s nothing we can really do about that now. Our job is to focus on these next two — the game tonight and then on Sunday against New Orleans — and then just kind of see what happens, where we stand after that. And then go win basketball games.”



The Lakers are currently tied with the Sacramento Kings and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors">Golden State Warriors</a>, but a combined 1-7 record against those teams sees the purple and gold 10th in the West.



Darvin Ham’s side can still finish as high as 8th if it wins its next two games, if other results also help. Either way, AD doesn’t seem to care about his team’s seed. The important thing for him is to be up to the task when the postseason comes.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240412_BUS_118525_Anthony-Davis-1024x576_ae3acc89.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Anthony Davis" class="wp-image-103179" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Anthony-Davis-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Anthony-Davis-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Anthony-Davis-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Anthony-Davis-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Anthony-Davis.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Anthony Davis before a game with the Los Angeles Lakers.</figcaption></figure>



“At the end of the day, no matter where you are in the standings, you still have to win,” Davis said. “For us, it’s about taking it one game at a time. Whether that’s 10th place, ninth place, eighth, no matter where you are. You can be the first seed, you still have to win basketball games. So that’s our mindset. No matter where we are, we just got to win.”


<div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="BUS#/nba/nba-news-warriors-draymond-green-has-a-warning-for-lebron-james-lakers"></div>


<h2>Lakers aim to build on 2023 playoff experience</h2>



Last year, Rob Pelinka made the right moves just in time to fix the Lakers’ roster at the trade deadline. The team looked completely different after the All-Star break, making a huge turnaround in the second half of the season to achieve a deep playoff run.



Los Angeles made it all the way to the Conference Finals, where it got swept by eventual champions Denver Nuggets. Except for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a>, the Lakers have been more inconsistent this year, but their playoff experience from last year suggests they shouldn’t be written off in 2024.



Davis spent time on the sidelines with his second eye injury in the last five weeks, but now looks ready to go and help finish the season strongly. The Play-In starts next week, and the Lakers could face a huge matchup with the Warriors as a possible opponent.

Anthony Davis has a warning for the Lakers' doubters

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The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers </a>can’t afford an injury right now. They’re more than likely to partake in the Play-In Tournament, and even if they manage to avoid it, they need<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Anthony Davis</a> on the court.



Davis sounded the alarms when he left the loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves early in the second quarter and didn’t return. Then, he left the arena without even addressing the media.



Apparently, Davis re-aggravated an eye injury after a putback dunk. With him being one of the msot injury-prone and impactful players in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a>, there are always major concerns whenever he gets hurt.



<h2>Anthony Davis Talks About His Eye Injury</h2>



Dave McMenamin of ESPN reached out to Davis after the game, and he admitted that he just couldn’t see. He had a swollen eye and suffered corneal abrasion, so he clearly couldn’t play like that:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240408_BUS_117466_Anthony-Davis-1024x576_b300256d.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Anthony Davis" class="wp-image-103179" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Anthony-Davis-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Anthony-Davis-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Anthony-Davis-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Anthony-Davis-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Anthony-Davis.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Anthony Davis before a game with the Los Angeles Lakers.</figcaption></figure>



“I just couldn’t see,” Davis said. “The corneal abrasion was actually right in the middle of my eye. It wasn’t like off to the side. So anytime I looked it was blurry. My eye was swollen. I thought my eye was like, [torn] open. But it wasn’t. It kept watering. It just felt like sand was in my eye.”



The Lakers were already without LeBron James, who was a late scratch with flu-like symptoms. Needless to say, it was an uphill battle against the No. 1 seed without their two best players.



<h2>Davis Is So Valuable, Says Coach Ham</h2>



“He’s extremely valuable,” coach Darvin Ham said of Davis. “Everyone around here knows that. Everything he brings on both sides of the ball, it’s tough. Already being without Bron and seeing him go out, it’s tough. But my hat’s off to our guys. They didn’t feel sorry for themselves. They kept competing all the way through.”




<div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="BUS#/nba/nba-rumors-lakers-to-go-after-trae-young-kyrie-irving-or-third-star"></div>






The Lakers will hope that Davis gets back on the floor on Tuesday, as a loss to the Golden State Warriors could drop them to No. 10 ahead of their potential matchup in the Play-In.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="6613f6be7a4c8e960998e80f" data-title="Are the Lakers contenders?" data-options="2"></div>

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<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James </a>and the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Los Angeles Lakers </a>can’t seem to be two potential postseason rivals. The Denver Nuggets have beaten them eight consecutive times, and the Sacramento Kings just swept the season series against them.



The Kings have now won eight of their last nine against the Lakers. Mike Brown has vastly outcoached Darvin Ham, who has failed to make any sort of adjustments to prevent this.



That was on full display again on Wednesday night. The Lakers hit the ground running and got off to a solid start before the Kings stormed right back. That’s why Anthony Davis was far from happy with his team’s effort.



<h2>Anthony Davis Talks As Kings Sweep Lakers</h2>



“We had a 17-point quarter,” Davis said after the loss. “We came out in the third and had some turnovers early, they had some guys capitalize on our missed shots. Harrison (Barnes) shot the ball well, they were all really goo from 3. We had a tough shooting night, the turnovers kind of hurt us a bit, offensive rebounding. Anytime they got a rebound, it resulted in a 3 most of the time. It’s tough, you know they’re a good team and when we give them second-chance points or turn the ball over and give them easy points in transition, it just makes it a lot harder.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240314_BUS_111402_Anthony-Davis-2-1024x576_3c5b6ee2.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Anthony Davis" class="wp-image-79878" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-2.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Anthony Davis</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Davis Is Frustrated</h2>



Davis admitted to being quite frustrated with this situation. He called his team out for not picking up the intensity, and he talked about how poorly they shot from the field:



“It’s frustrating, especially the last two games. We had a terrible second quarter at our place and that was the game right there,” Davis continued. “Tonight, I think it might’ve been the third quarter where we had 17 points. So just came out of halftime and couldn’t put the ball in the basket. Had tough turnovers, especially to start the third. They got some easy looks so to be down four and I think it went to 12, something like that, pretty quickly. So we just got to come out of half ready to go. We all struggled from the field, me, LeBron and DLo, particularly me with shots around the basketball in the first half. When you’re down, you don’t want to give team like this any more extra points. When we give up extra points off of offensive rebounds and turnovers, it’s a lot tougher to beat them.”


<div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="BUS#/nba/lakers-get-massive-injury-boost-with-gabe-vincent"></div>


The fact that two of their potential playoff rivals have the Lakers’ number doesn’t bode well for their championship chances, and the front office might want to consider a coaching change if this happens again in the playoffs.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="65f3022a215ca885faf218e4" data-title="Will the Lakers go far in the playoffs?" data-options="2"></div>

Anthony Davis shows frustration as Kings sweep the Lakers

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The All-Star Game used to be one of the most entertaining nights in the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> NBA </a>season. The best players on Earth going toe-to-toe and competing at the highest level made it a one-of-a-kind show.



That’s no longer the case. The talent pool might be bigger, and some might argue that the players are even better. However, it’s become evident that they don’t care about competing anymore.



Even so, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> star duo of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> and Anthony Davis justified what went down on Sunday. When asked about arguably the worst All-Star Game in NBA history — according to social media — they were just glad no one got hurt.



<h2>LeBron And Davis Defend Non-Competitive All-Star Games</h2>



“I think it’s something we need to figure out,” James told ESPN. “Obviously from a player’s perspective, it’s fun to get up and down. But at the end of the day, our competitive nature don’t like to have free-flowing scoring like that. But I think the good thing that came out of tonight was none of the players were injured, and everybody came out unscathed or how they were before the game started. So it’s a deeper conversation.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240220_BUS_106159_LeBron-James-All-Star-1024x576_bc5070c9.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="LeBron James All-Star" class="wp-image-105945" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/LeBron-James-All-Star-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/LeBron-James-All-Star-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/LeBron-James-All-Star-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/LeBron-James-All-Star-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/LeBron-James-All-Star.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>LeBron James gives a conference at the All-Star Weekend.</figcaption></figure>



Davis echoed a similar sentiment. Of course, player safety should be first and foremost, but how many stars actually got hurt playing pickup or playing at the All-Star Game?



“Obviously the fans and the league and everybody wants to be competitive, but then you also as players think about trying not to get hurt,” Davis said. “Obviously injuries are a part of the game, and no one wants to get hurt in the All-Star Game. All these guys here are very valuable to their teams. So it’s some mixed emotions about it. You try to go out there and compete a little bit and not just be a highlight show. But at the same time, do you guys really want to see somebody going down for a dunk and somebody going to contest it and, God forbid, something happens in the All-Star Game when it could have been avoided?”


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Not so long ago, NBA stars played all 82 games or most of them, and they still managed to stay in the league for 15+ seasons. They have better trainers, more technology, fly in private jets, stay in five-star hotels, yet they don’t even want to play back-to-backs.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="65d4a411c04ef6a96d55bfc4" data-title="Is the All-Star Game even worth watching anymore?" data-options="2"></div>

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The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> haven’t found much success since <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> arrived. If you put every single year in a vacuum, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> championship in 2020 looks more like an outlier.



Of course, winning a ring in five years should hardly be considered a failure. Then again, some fans simply refuse to take that championship seriously because of the context and the conditions.



Even before the league resumed activities during the pandemic, some fans and analysts debated whether that championship had an asterisk next to it. Needless to say, things only got worse once James and Anthony Davis won the whole thing.



<h2>Anthony Davis Says Lakers Would’ve Won The Title In 2020 Anyway</h2>



That’s why, making an appearance on D’Angelo Russell’s podcast, Davis wanted to set the record straight, making fun of those who discredit their title and claiming they would’ve won anyway:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240208_BUS_103199_Anthony-Davis-1024x576_708d0a46.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Anthony Davis" class="wp-image-77151" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Anthony Davis</figcaption></figure>



“People talk about ‘aw the Lakers championship. Oh, it wasn’t real, the bubble’ But people tend to forget we were the number one team in the league that year. We had already won 12 straight. We weren’t losing games; we were 21-3 or something like that. We were running through the league. We were gonna win anyway,” Davis said.



That’s valid. That Lakers team was rolling on defense, and LeBron James was four years younger, so he still had another gear in him. The biggest question is perhaps if Davis would’ve been able to stay healthy under regular circumstances.



Also, with the Lakers struggling to keep that level of play since the bubble, their haters went out of their way to try and claim that they would’ve never gotten the job done if it wasn’t for the bubble.


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Whatever the case, no one can take anything away from the Lakers. The field was level; everybody had the same opportunities to win the whole thing, and they were the best team by a significant margin.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="65c4e093c04ef6a96d55b453" data-title="Is there an asterisk next to the bubble ring?" data-options="2"></div>

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The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers </a>have been up and down this campaign, and if they continue this trend, they will only have the In-Season Tournament to show for at the end of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA </a>season.



Darvin Ham’s team has alternated solid efforts with not-so-good ones, and he’s looked overwhelmed and over his head from time to time. Even so, they still have the potential to be better than his.



The Lakers have lacked a consistent effort, and they’ve dug themselves into big holes early in games way too often. Needless to say, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> isn’t satisfied with that.



<h2>Lakers Cannot Relax, Says LeBron</h2>



“Definitely we’re not a team that likes to play from behind,” James said. “We’ve been in that position a lot this year, especially in the first quarter, but we still was able to get back into the game. But they did a good job. You know, you give credit where credit’s due.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240102_BUS_95612_LeBron-James-5-1024x576_2920b1e9.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="LeBron James reacts during the Lakers loss to the Thunder." class="wp-image-89310" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/LeBron-James-5-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/LeBron-James-5-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/LeBron-James-5-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/LeBron-James-5-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/LeBron-James-5.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>LeBron James reacts during the Lakers loss to the Thunder.</figcaption></figure>



The Lakers will now play 11 of their next 12 games at home. But as good as that might seem, LeBron doesn’t want them to get too comfortable and just go through the motions:



“It could hurt us in the sense where you start to feel comfortable because you’re at home,” James said. “So we have to understand that, yes, just because we’re home, we really can’t relax now.”



<h2>Injuries Are Killing The Lakers, Says Anthony Davis</h2>



Anthony Davis also voiced his frustration about this tough stretch, talking about how their lack of depth and the countless injuries continue to hurt their chemistry and rotation:



“Rui [Hachimura] goes out. I just said that’s going to be our biggest downfall this year,” Davis said. “Not being able to stay healthy, especially coming off a back-to-back. You’re already missing Cam [Reddish], DLo.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240102_BUS_95612_Anthony-Davis-1-1024x576_67b566a7.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Anthony Davis" class="wp-image-77947" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Anthony Davis</figcaption></figure>



Davis talked about the team being smaller, which is kind of odd, considering they did have Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes available in their loss to the New Orleans Pelicans:



“Obviously, Gabe [Vincent] is out for an extended period of time, but then Rui goes down,” he continued. “Now, our rotation is smaller. You lose another body as far as scoring, but yeah, I mean, defensively, we gave up a lot of threes.”



<h2>Lakers Need To Regroup</h2>



Even so, the Lakers cannot keep using the health excuse for their struggles. Austin Reaves acknowledges that as banged up as they are, everybody in the league has to deal with those issues:



“You want to win. And as a team, I believe that you know what our goal is to do is win. And you know, since the in-season tournament, we’ve been struggling. Health, you know injuries, sickness, you know we’ve kind of had some bad fortune there,” said Reaves. “But at the end of the day, it happens to everybody, and we got to look in the mirror and, you know, see what we can do to be better what I could do to be better, and just get better.”


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Injuries have obviously taken a big toll on this team, but it doesn’t seem like they have the right personnel to be a legitimate NBA championship contender, even when healthy.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="65943758355a85755992918c" data-title="Can the Lakers turn things around?" data-options="2"></div>

Lakers' LeBron James, Anthony Davis are worried after another blowout loss

Lakers' LeBron James, Anthony Davis are worried after another blowout loss - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers </a>haven’t found much success this season. They’ve crushed lesser teams, but they’ve struggled to close games out, especially against <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> championship contenders. The season is still early, but it’s been a worrisome trend.



Granted that<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> LeBron James</a> has put up big numbers more often than not, but the rest of the supporting cast has been lacking. Moroever, coach Darvin Ham has often struggled to make in-game tweaks and adjustments to his injury-depleted rotations.



Also, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Davis </a>has alternated great games with not-so-good ones, not to mention the fact that he’s been quite passive when the game is on the line and during key stretches.



That was evident again in their game with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/dallas-mavericks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dallas Mavericks</a>. James put on a show with 16 points in the fourth quarter, while Davis only took one shot in the final 12 minutes en route to a three-point loss.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20231126_BUS_87898_Anthony-Davis-1024x576.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-85397" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/Anthony-Davis-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/Anthony-Davis-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/Anthony-Davis-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/Anthony-Davis-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/Anthony-Davis.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Richard Sherman Blames Davis For Lakers Loss</h2>



That’s why former Super Bowl champion Richard Sherman didn’t mince his words against him. In the latest edition of Undisputed, Sherman stated that Davis has a tendency to disappear on the backend of back-to-back games, especially in crunch time:



“Where is Anthony Davis? File a missing person report because, again, on a back-to-back, he disappears when they need him. Sure he, had 13 rebounds but 4-for-10 from the field. Non-existent, I didn’t even hear his name being mentioned in the 4th,” Sherman said.



The former Seattle Seahawks star stated that Lakers fans should blame Davis for the loss, adding that he was supposed to take over and be the Batman to LeBron James’ Robin:



“That’s where the blame needs to be,” continued Sherman. “LeBron misses the game-tying shot in the end, but he is supposed to have given the keys to Anthony Davis. Like, this is your team; I am your running mate.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20231126_BUS_87898_anthonydavis-1024x572.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=572" alt="" class="wp-image-41299" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/anthonydavis-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/anthonydavis-300x168.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/anthonydavis-768x429.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/anthonydavis.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Anthony Davis</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Skip Bayless Mocks Davis</h2>



On that same note, renowned pundit Skip Bayless mocked the ‘A.D.’ nickname by claiming it stands for ‘Always Disappearing’ and called him out for not stepping up and demanding the ball in crunch time:



“A.D. too often stands for Always Disappearing, and last night he disappeared in the 4th quarter,” said Bayless.“Again, you and I, and all of us, have kicked this around and kicked him around on the show again and again and again. If you are that dude, you gotta demand the basketball, you gotta call for it, you gotta say, Remember me?” 



<h2>This Is Just Who He Is</h2>



Anthony Davis has been in the league for 11 years now, yet some people seem to forget that. He’s always been that kind of player, so asking him to be any different at this point in his career is pretty much futile.



There’s nothing wrong with not being a go-to guy. Davis is perhaps the best Robin in the league, and those help you win championships as well. Of course, it would be better if he were to take LeBron’s torch and become their leader, but that’s just not his personality.


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Needless to say, that puts the Lakers in a tough spot, as a 39-year-old LeBron James cannot handle all the work on his own. But expecting anything different from an 11-year veteran won’t get us anywhere.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="65621eebf2b571abd7e49b85" data-title="Are the Lakers championship contenders?" data-options="2"></div>

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Just a couple of weeks ago, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers </a>star <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Davis </a>talked about how much he was looking forward to facing the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Denver Nuggets</a> again. He said that he and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> had some extra motivation and unfinished business against them, and for a second, it truly seemed that way.



Davis hit the ground running and scored 17 first-half points before completely disappearing in the second half. He went scoreless and only took six shots in the final two quarters of the game, infuriating the fans for another subpar performance vs. a good team.



These issues date back to last season, in which some <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> fans even started calling him ‘Alternate Days.’ It’s a tale of two stories with him, and it seems like he cannot get back on track once the rival messes up with his rhythm.



When asked about what happened in the second half, Davis admitted that he wasn’t aggressive enough and stopped shooting, adding that the Nuggets’ adjustment of crowding the paint made life difficult for him in the restricted area.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20231025_BUS_80013_Anthony-Davis-1-1024x576.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Anthony Davis" class="wp-image-77947" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Anthony-Davis-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Anthony Davis</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Anthony Davis Blames Double-Teams For Second Half Blunder</h2>



“They started double-teaming, trying to crowd the paint,” Davis said postgame. “I missed some easy layups around the rim, little jumpers. But I was trying to make the right play, kick it out to our guys when they double. Rui (Hachimura) hit an open three, Gabe (Vincent) had open threes, they just didn’t fall. But I have to shoot it more.”



Coach Darvin Ham still had his player’s back, praising him for keeping them close in the first half. Even so, he wants him to be way more aggressive as a scorer, which was a point of emphasis throughout the course of the entire offseason:



“Just trying to move him around and attack and play downhill. (He) had some unfortunate misses. (He) had it going there for a while, kept us close.” Ham said, “But just want him to be all-out aggressive whether it’s pick and roll, him catching the ball in trail position, him direct post-up. Just want him to be aggressive. We’ll go back and look at the film and see if there’s anything we like and then go from there.”



<h2>Lakers Need Davis</h2>



No one can deny that Anthony Davis is one of the best and most impactful players in the NBA. He can put up 30 points and 15 rebounds while also playing lockdown defense, both on the perimeter and below the rim. But he needs to bring that fire night in and night out.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20231025_BUS_80013_Anthony-Davis-1-1024x572.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=572" alt="" class="wp-image-59666" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Anthony-Davis-1-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Anthony-Davis-1-300x168.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Anthony-Davis-1-768x429.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Anthony-Davis-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Anthony Davis</figcaption></figure>



Coach Ham confirmed that LeBron James will be under a minute restriction for the remainder of the season. That leaves Davis as the de facto go-to guy more often than not, so he cannot afford to stop shooting or being aggressive, regardless of how he’s guarded.


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Davis is borderline unstoppable when he’s at his best, and the Lakers’ entire offensive game plan will be focused on him. LeBron is 39 years old and might not be physically able to lead the team, so it’s time for Davis to show why the Lakers gave him such a big contract extension this offseason.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="65395e87f2b571abd7e46273" data-title="Can Anthony Davis be the Lakers\&apos; leader?" data-options="2"></div>

Anthony Davis makes up excuse after being shut down in second half of season opener

Anthony Davis makes up excuse after being shut down in second half of season opener - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a> are one of the teams to watch in the 2023-24 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> season. For the first time in years, the purple and gold are seen as legit contenders. However, it’s safe to say their championship aspirations will hinge on <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis">Anthony Davis</a>‘ health.



We’re talking about two veteran stars who need no introduction, as they’ve already what they’re capable of when healthy. Last year they got the help they needed to be competitive again, but it wasn’t enough to challenge for the ring.



The 2020 championship is a testament to what LeBron and AD can do together, but it’s been three years now. Therefore, the Lakers have some pressure on their shoulders, especially since they made interesting moves in the offseason.


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Rob Pelinka didn’t have to pull off much trades like he did in February, but by capitalizing on the free agency and re-signing key contributors, the Lakers have reasons to believe. The lineup is pretty much set, but the fifth spot is still up for grabs. With their opening game right around the corner, AD believes Taurean Prince can take it.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20231020_BUS_77920_Taurean-Prince-1024x576.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Taurean Prince" class="wp-image-77948" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Taurean-Prince-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Taurean-Prince-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Taurean-Prince-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Taurean-Prince-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/Taurean-Prince.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Taurean Prince</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Anthony Davis believes Taurean Prince is making strong case to start for the Lakers</h2>



“He’s a vet. True professional,” Davis said of Prince, via Khobi Price of the Southern California News Group. “Shooting the basketball very well in practice, games, he’s getting work in. A defender. He’s been great. I’m not sure who the starter is going to be, but I think he’s making a great case for himself.”


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Prince, 29, agreed on a one-year deal with the Lakers as a free agent this offseason after spending the last two years with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Though he wasn’t expected to challenge for a spot as a starter, his preseason performances put the big man in the conversation.



LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell are all but confirmed in the Lakers lineup, but it’s still unclear who will complete the starting five. Apart from Prince, Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura seem to be in the race for that open spot.


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Vanderbilt made a great impression in LA since arriving from Utah in February, especially on the defensive side of the ball. His weakness, however, is in offense. Hachimura, on the other hand, has proven his ability on both sides of the floor.



<h2>Lakers hoping offseason moves take them higher</h2>



Though being swept by the Nuggets hurt, the Lakers had little to complain about last season considering how poorly they performed in the first half of the year. The February moves paid off, as the team ended up making the Conference Finals.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20231020_BUS_77920_LeBron-James-2-1024x576.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-74160" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/LeBron-James-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/LeBron-James-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/LeBron-James-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/LeBron-James-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/10/LeBron-James-2.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers</figcaption></figure>



But now it’s time to build on that turnaround, hoping to go further than in 2023. The Lakers were widely seen as the big winners of the free agency, having signed Gabe Vincent, Prince, Cam Reddish, Jaxson Hayes, and Christian Wood.



With Reaves, Hachimura and Vanderbilt tied to contract extensions, the purple and gold have secured depth. Their fifth starter may not be confirmed yet, but they have plenty of options before facing Denver on Oct. 24 in the season opener.

Anthony Davis backs Lakers teammate to start next to him, LeBron James

Anthony Davis backs Lakers teammate to start next to him, LeBron James - Bolavip US

Last week, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> coach Darvin Ham stirred the pot with some eye-popping comments. He urged <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-davis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Davis</a> to take six three-pointers per game, which is more than three times as many as he averages in his <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA </a>career (1.6).



Needless to say, the comments prompted plenty of criticism and hot takes left and right. Davis is a career 30% shooter from beyond the arc, and he’s never shot better than 34% from deep. In fact, he’s coming off knocking down just 25.7% of his three-pointers on 1.3 attempts per game last season.



Today’s game requires power forwards to step up to the perimeter and stretch the floor, but that has never been Davis’ game. He’s got elite footwork and a sweet touch from close and mid-range, and while he’s able to sink an occasional three, having him chug up shots from deep might not be the wisest idea.



<h2>Darvin Ham Clarifies His Comments On Davis’ Offense</h2>



That’s why the second-year coach had to clear the air on what he actually meant when he said he wanted Davis to take that many threes. Per Ham, he was just trying to send a message and make a statement about Davis being more aggressive next season:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20231018_BUS_77189_Anthony-Davis-1-1024x572.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=572" alt="" class="wp-image-59666" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Anthony-Davis-1-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Anthony-Davis-1-300x168.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Anthony-Davis-1-768x429.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Anthony-Davis-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Anthony Davis</figcaption></figure>



“People have been going crazy with that number,” Ham told ESPN. “I just think it’s me saying: I want him to be aggressive from all three levels. I don’t want him to think ‘OK, man,’ and second-guess his shot. He catches it, and no one’s in front of him, or his defender is off of him; I want him shooting the ball from three. If he happens to be in the corner, he catches it, I want him to shoot the ball from three. While still being aggressive in the low post and the midrange.”



Ham wants Davis to make the most of the looks he gets. Regardless of whether he’s a volume three-point shooter or not, he wants to make defenses pay for leaving him open and keep defenders guessing by expanding his game:



“So, it’s not like I just want him to become this exclusive stretch big all of a sudden,” he continued. “I just want him to be aggressive from each and every spot on the floor.”



<h2>Lakers Need Davis To Step Up</h2>



Six three-pointers or not, the Lakers need Anthony Davis to play like the superstar he is. He just got a multi-year contract extension, and the Lakers want him to carry <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James’</a> torch once he’s no longer with the team.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20231018_BUS_77189_Anthony-Davis-of-the-Lakers-during-2023-1024x572.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=572" alt="Anthony Davis of the Lakers during 2023" class="wp-image-30423" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/Anthony-Davis-of-the-Lakers-during-2023-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/Anthony-Davis-of-the-Lakers-during-2023-300x168.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/Anthony-Davis-of-the-Lakers-during-2023-768x429.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/Anthony-Davis-of-the-Lakers-during-2023.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><figcaption>Anthony Davis of the Lakers during 2023</figcaption></figure>



LeBron is entering his 21st season in the league, and he can only do so much at this point in his career. Davis is supposed to be in his physical prime and will be asked to be the team’s primary scorer and driving force on both ends of the floor next season.




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Inconsistency and injuries have taken a toll on his ability to make an impact in the past couple of years. But when healthy and at his best, Davis can make a case for being the best two-way big man in the NBA.


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Lakers coach Darvin Ham clarifies controversial comments about Anthony Davis

Austin Reaves Considered Another Team Before Staying with LeBron James at the Lakers

NBA News: Lakers \&#039;hint\&#039; LeBron James might have one of the best seasons in his career

Lakers coach Darvin Ham clarifies controversial comments about Anthony Davis - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers </a>and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Nuggets</a> don’t like each other. It became loud and clear at the end of the last <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA </a>season when they started throwing darts at each other.



They starred in an exciting series, but the Nuggets got the ultimate bragging rights for sweeping them. Also, they can talk as much as they want after winning the NBA championship.



That’s why their coach, Mike Malone, didn’t hesitate to hit back at Anthony Davis, shortly after he said he and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> were looking forward to beating them next season.



<h2>Mike Malone Fuels Fire In Beef With Lakers</h2>



“As I said after that Game 4, we have tremendous respect for that team,” Malone said. “I have tremendous respect for Darvin Ham as a coach and the job that he did. I don’t listen to any of that stuff. I don’t know what they’re saying. And if we’re on their minds, then I guess that’s on them.”



Lakers and Nuggets will square off in the first game of the regular season, and it’s going to be fireworks for sure. This is the brewing of a new rivalry in the Western Conference.


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At the end of the day, however, bragging rights will go to whoever ends up on top in the playoffs, so the Lakers will have to wait a long time to get back at them, if ever.

Nuggets coach Mike Malone claps back at Anthony Davis over beef with Lakers

Nuggets coach Mike Malone claps back at Anthony Davis over beef with Lakers - Bolavip US

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Anthony Davis | Today news | Page 14

Anthony Davis - Page 14