By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Forced down to 31-47 on Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers fell a couple of games outside the Play-In zone of the Western Conference.
“I think the biggest thing that I think about personally is what we could have been, had we stayed healthy all year,” wondered Anthony Davis after the losing streak was extended to six games by Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, “Guys feel like, ‘OK, what could we have been if I was healthy all year, LeBron [James] was healthy, [Kendrick] Nunn was healthy.’ You think about those things. We put this team together and it looked good on paper, but we haven’t had a chance to reach that potential with guys in and out of the lineup. So the most frustrating part of this season is not being sure of what we could have been.”
Davis, 29, logged 28 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, three blocks, and two steals in the latest installment of NBA Sundays. Previously missing 40 of the 78 games so far in the 2021-22 NBA Regular Season, he averaged 23.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals per contest while available. Opposite the Nuggets, LeBron James sat out with left ankle soreness and is considered doubtful to play against the Phoenix Suns, pretty much a do-or-die game for the Lakers Tuesday.
“They said I can’t get any worse,” he commented on advice from the medical staff, “Once I hear that, if I can’t make it any worse, then it’s just going out and making sure the foot is comfortable enough to go out there and play.”
“There are no moral victories in this league. Especially with us,” added Davis, “The whole world wants to see us lose, to be honest. But my job is to be on the floor and help these guys win and I think our spirit is very high in the locker room and we’re going to continue to fight.”
With four games left on the Regular Season schedule, the storied franchise can squeeze in the Play-Ins surpassing the New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs but will need to finally get back on track and seek favorable results elsewhere.
“It’s easy to unravel,” noted head coach Frank Vogel, “Our group has stayed together. They’re putting up the good fight. Their attitude has been wonderful, in terms of just working together to get this thing right. And it’s just disappointing to come in to keep saying we fell short.”
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