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Anthony Davis: Lakers Must 'Take Our Time at the Rim' After Game 1 Loss
August 19, 2020
The Los Angeles Lakers turned in an abysmal offensive performance during Tuesday's 100-93 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series, and big man Anthony Davis believes the team rushed its looks in defeat.
Davis suggested the Lakers need to "take our time at the rim" heading into Game 2 as they look to even the series, per Mark Medina of USA Today:
For perspective on the Lakers' offensive performance, the last time Portland allowed fewer than 100 points was on Jan. 7 in a win over the Toronto Raptors. That was 38 games ago for a team that has made a living of simply outscoring opponents in the bubble at Walt Disney World Resort.
Los Angeles shot just 35.1 percent from the field and 15.6 percent from three-point range in Tuesday's loss.
Davis scored 28 points, but he was not blameless with a mere two points in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line. LeBron James notched a triple-double of 23 points, 17 rebounds and 16 assists but was just 1-of-5 from three-point range.
The big man's comments about taking more time at the rim are notable since Hassan Whiteside blocked five shots for Portland. Two of them came in key moments in the fourth quarter when the Trail Blazers were in the process of seizing the momentum for good.
It was more of the same for the Purple and Gold after they were 20th of 22 teams in offensive rating during the eight seeding games in Florida, per NBA.com.
That is not going to cut it against a Trail Blazers team that can catch fire from three-point range at a moment's notice with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum running the show. If the Lakers can't match them basket for basket in crunch time, the No. 8 seed could end up stunning the basketball world and taking the series.
Los Angeles will have an opportunity to turn things around in Game 2 on Thursday.