LOS ANGELES – Lebron James is playing like he is 35 years old and it is paying off huge for a Laker team that is clawing and scratching their way to wins. Anthony Davis had the game that Laker fans have been waiting for the past week as well, providing another 20 point game to supplement James.
The Lakers are now 8-6 and have won two straight games after falling to .500.
Here are my three takeaways:
The Lebron-Anthony Davis Duo Is Still Lethal
When both of these dudes are healthy, they are still one of the best duos in the league. Davis can hold down the paint like no other and has proven this year to be one of the three best rim protectors in all of basketball. James can still be the number one option on this team when he wants to be as well, with his shot improving and quickness still in his body.
On Sunday night, Lebron looked like he was five years younger and Davis looked like the 2020 version of himself against Houston. If these two can get on a run with their consistency both health-wise and basketball-wise, they will easily be a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.
Austin Reaves Rounding Into Form
Reaves had 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists against the Rockets, including a clutch go-ahead three pointer in the final seconds. Reaves has slowly but surely found his rhythm and I believe will continue to get into game-shape.
It was noticeable that Reaves seemed to have tired legs and limited bounce after his stint with Team USA in the FIBA World Cup this past summer. Now, he looks spry, quick, twitchy and more importantly, lethal. Reaves’ three point shot has come along and while there are some turnover issues, he looks to be getting to his spots and draining baskets with the same efficiency we saw in the second half of the 2022-2023 season.
This Team Still Has Lapses
Although any win in the NBA is a great win, the Lakers have been lethargic at times. Although they were missing Lebron, they barely escaped with a win against Portland, had some questionable play in the fourth quarter to let the Rockets back in the game, and overall have had some head-scratchers. Not to mention, D’Angelo Russell was benched yet again in the fourth quarter because of lackluster play in the previous three. There are still some obvious rotation issues to work through, but the makeup of this team should show that they are much better than their record of 8-6. There is a lot of basketball left…
Get ready for that bright court, because the Lakers have an In Season Tournament game on Tuesday at home against Utah. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM PST.
