Anthony Davis would be spoken of as an MVP candidate on any other team. After playing his socks off over the past 15 games, he’s only managed to pull the Lakers to 11 wins in total. His numbers are off the charts, with him scoring the most since he joined the Lakers. He also leads the league in rebounds, and the Lakers need him.
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In a brutal loss to the Celtics tonight, the Brow played like an MVP again but had one moment to seal the deal. AD oversaw a huge 36-point swing in the Lakers’ favor but saw the C’s rally back. In the game’s dying moments, AD was fouled and was given a golden opportunity to seal the deal. Two free throws that would have put the game out of reach for Jayson Tatum and co.
But as luck would have it, he missed both FTs, which then saw Tatum hit the shot to tie the game. That one shot changed the game because LeBron James missed the game-winning shot and the Celtics won in overtime. Another loss in overtime, and this time to their eternal rivals.
Until that point, he had made 11 of 13 from the free-throw line. But those couple of misses made sure their opponents got a chance to come back.
The Lakers could have won the game if not for a late rally by the Celtics. Jayson Tatum may have scored 40 points, but the initiator of the comeback was his partner Jaylen Brown. Playing like a superstar, he took the W in the Crypto.com Arena.
Anthony Davis, who had 37 points, 12 boards, and 3 assists, said it’s hard for him to think about anything other than the missed free throws in the final minute: “I know there’s more to it … but for me, you go back to the free throws (at Philly and vs. Boston) … it’s on me.”
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) December 14, 2022
The Lakers need Anthony Davis to keep his head high – They need their MVP to be strong
A tough loss, sure, but they move on. The next game is a fresh slate, and the ability of superstars to bounce back is showcased best in these moments. AD can take all his time to reflect on the game, but it’s all good as long as he doesn’t get consumed by it. He had the chance at his fingertips, but it didn’t happen this time.
Anthony Davis spent a long time just sitting in the locker room postgame, thinking about what might have been vs Boston, and even once he emerged all he could talk about were those late free throws: pic.twitter.com/vagMWit8Mn
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) December 14, 2022
Rachel Nichols provided her perspective on what Anthony Davis had to say about his performance. He said that all he thought about was the free throws since nothing else mattered. If he had made those two, it would have been a different ballgame.
What next for the Lakers?
They play the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, which means they have a few days to cool off. Two brutal overtime losses take a lot out of the team, and they need to be at their best to face Nikola Jokic and co. Jamal Murray has been back strong, which means the Lakers need their A game and then some to hold off their competition.
One thing is certain: when Patrick Beverley is on the floor, he has no offensive impact. The man barely puts up any shots, and even if he does, he misses. The Lakers’ big three need all the support they can get, and #21 ain’t cutting it.
Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss have laid the groundwork for this team to fail. There is not much anyone can pull off with this team, given the supporting cast. Let’s just hope they manage to do something to give 3-6-0 their support because they need everything they can get.
