After a rough offensive showing against the Nuggets on Saturday, Anthony Davis says it was just a matter of good looks at the basket not going in.
Losing to the Nuggets has become far too normal for the Lakers, but Anthony Davis struggling during the contest has not.
AD is having an incredible start to his season, averaging 30.1 points and 11.1 rebounds, but he was neutralized against the Nuggets. He was unable to get going offensively and ended the night with just 14 points on 6-19 shooting.
After the game, Davis had a fairly simple explanation for his struggles.
“I just missed shots,” Davis said postgame. “I think all great looks. Miss or make league, I’ll make more than I miss, for sure. You always wish you could make every shot. Confident in every shot I took. Shots that I normally – make all of us, to be honest – shots that we all normally make, we just missed. I like every shot that I took tonight. It just didn’t go in.”
Typically, AD does have good offensive games against the Nuggets. Last year, during the playoffs, he averaged 27.8 points and never had a game as poor as the one he had on Saturday.
Head coach JJ Redick was asked about AD’s struggles postgame and came to the same conclusion as well.
“I felt like he missed some of those tough shots,” Redick said postgame. “Missed some shots closer in…Ball just kind of spun around the rim and went out. I thought in terms of the offensive process for him, overall it was fine.”
Given how well AD has been this season, especially offensively, he isn’t a player you have to worry about.
This was a bad night and a rarity for the Lakers star. However, the loss and the Lakers’ lack of effort were alarming and hinted at bigger problems with this team in the long term.
At 16 games, the sample size is still small, but losses against top teams like Denver, Orlando, and Cleveland suggest that the Lakers can beat up on weaker opponents but can’t defeat formidable ones.
The upcoming slate of games will be a good test for the Lakers as they face top competition in the West. They must demonstrate that they convert far more than they fall short in this make-or-miss league.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.
