Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers - The Lakers lose to Cavaliers. Anthony Davis Scores No Fourth Quarter Points for Third Straight Game

The Lakers lose to Cavaliers. Anthony Davis Scores No Fourth Quarter Points for Third Straight Game

11/07/22 • 38 min

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Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

It was fun while it lasted.

The Lakers have fallen back into (even earlier) early season habits around bad shooting and stagnant offense. Both were on display Sunday as the Lakers lost to Cleveland at the Crypt, falling to 2-7 on the year with a Monday game against the surprisingly excellent Utah Jazz (who spanked the Lakers in LA on Friday). Anthony Davis was strong early, but invisible down the stretch, scoring no points in the fourth quarter for the third straight game. He only took two shots in the second half, and while in previous games some of the late game invisibility can be attributed to his recurring back problem, that didn't seem to be an issue Sunday.

So what gives? Is it an AD problem? Something related to the rest of the offense? A problem with a deteriorating defense?

Yes, yes, and yes.

This was not a Dear Diary night for the supporting cast, either. Russell Westbrook was fantastic (particularly early), scoring 12 first quarter points and finishing with 19. He also singlehandedly outscored the rest of the bench, which isn't good. Lonnie Walker IV had an off night, and Kendrick Nunn, starting for an ill Pat Beverley, scored no points. None. Zero.

After, Darvin Ham said those guys need to be better. And he's right! But is that, in broad terms, a fair expectation? Have the Lakers built the type of roster where supporting players should be expected to contribute at the level the Lakers will need in order to make any noise this season? (Any good noise, at least?)

Much to unpack as the Danger! lights are flashing bright.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers lose and the offense falters again.

SEGMENT 2: Why isn't AD performing late in games?

SEGMENT 3: Darvin lays down a marker for the supporting cast. Is it fair, though?

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It was fun while it lasted.

So what gives? Is it an AD problem? Something related to the rest of the offense? A problem with a deteriorating defense?

Yes, yes, and yes.

Much to unpack as the Danger! lights are flashing bright.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers lose and the offense falters again.

SEGMENT 2: Why isn't AD performing late in games?

SEGMENT 3: Darvin lays down a marker for the supporting cast. Is it fair, though?

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

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Previous Episode

Locked On Lakers-Locked On Nets Crossover: Comparing and Contrasting Franchise Drama!

(Note: This episode was recorded before the Nets announced their suspension of Kyrie Irving.)

The Lakers and Nets have made some of the NBA's biggest, splashiest and most impactful moves over the last few seasons. But while both teams have made headlines (and more headlines, and more after that) neither franchise has actually done much winning. The Lakers have disintegrated in the standings, and the Nets have become the type of non-stop chain of fires that can't seem to be controlled. The last week, with Kyrie Irving being embroiled in controversy completely of his own making, being the latest example.

So what exactly has gone wrong with these two high profile franchises? What similarities and differences are there? Can either team reasonably be expected to turn things around this season?

And what, exactly, should the Nets do with Irving, and are the Lakers part of that answer?

These questions and more are the subject of a crossover episode with Adam Armbrecht, host of Locked On Nets.

For starters, what exactly is going on with Irving? Should the NBA have come down harder on him than it did (because a statement of condemnation/disappointment from Adam Silver isn't exactly a punishment). What exactly can the league do, anyway? What about the Nets, who seem to have tried to distract people from the problematic circumstances around Kyrie by hiring an equally problematic head coach in Ime Udoka.

These are two teams that are underperforming expectations, but the atmospheres around both are very, very different. Which team is more likely to fix things before they get worse?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, with Adam Armbrecht of Locked On Nets

SEGMENT 1: The Nets have a Kyrie Irving problem. At one time, that was seen perhaps as a potential avenue for the Lakers. How about now?

SEGMENT 2: What are the Lakers doing to try and reconstruct the team? Are the desperate to move Russ? What about LeBron's leadership?

SEGMENT 3: Which team can fix their problems first?

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Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

LinkedIn

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Next Episode

LeBron Misses Monday's Game as the Lakers Lose in Utah, Drop to 2-8

Lakers lose, 139-116 with LeBron James on the sidelines.

Darvin Ham said following Monday's game that he didn't come to Los Angeles to lose, and the Lakers didn't bring him to LA to lose... but that's what the team is doing right now. Monday's 139-116 loss to the Jazz in Utah dropped them to 2-8, an already big hole in a brutally competitive conference. LeBron James missed Monday's game with a nagging foot injury, and Ham said they'll have to monitor his minutes going forward. That's not good. Patrick Beverley and Lonnie Walker IV missed the game with illness, leaving the Lakers very shorthanded against a Jazz team that is now the best in the West.

So from a talent standpoint, the Lakers really didn't have much business winning.

Still, giving up 76 points in the first half? 139 overall? After 114 vs. Cleveland, and 130 vs. Utah on Friday? The wheels are coming off that defense that played so well earlier in the year, something Ham says needs to change quickly.

This team, Ham says, will turn a corner and should bottle these moments so that when they have good team problems everyone complains about, they can remember this stretch to understand how far they've come. Let's assume that day comes... where will the Lakers be when it happens?

Meanwhile, it's pretty amazing that the one big bright spot for these 2-8 Lakers? Russell Westbrook, whose transformation into killer sixth man continued on Monday. 24 points on 8-14 shooting, with five dimes. That he's the one thing Lakers fans seem genuinely excited about is quite a turn of events.

But what happens next?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers are outmanned with LeBron and others on the sidelines, losing to Utah and falling to 2-8.

SEGMENT 2: LeBron James is going to be treated with care going forward. Do the Lakers have the flexibility to make that work?

SEGMENT 3: Russell Westbrook... silver lining!

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

LinkedIn

LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA

PrizePicks

First time users can receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100 with promo code LOCKEDON. That’s PrizePicks.com – promo code; LOCKEDON

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