Andy and Brian Kamenetzky on the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA, pop culture, and anything else coming to mind. The Kamenetzky's have covered the Lakers for over a decade, for ESPN.com, ESPN Radio and the L.A. Times. They are frequent contributors to Lakers coverage on Spectrum Sportsnet, as well as The Athletic.
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episode 23: Anthony Davis has a sore Achilles tendon. Cause for concern? Plus the Wisdom of Alex Caruso and more
As much as anything can be in this day and age, the 2020-21 season for the Lakers has been pretty smooth sailing. No COVID-19-related cancellations, little by way of injuries, piling up wins, and so on. Now, we seem to be passing through a potentially more challenging stretch. Anthony Davis has been diagnosed with tendonosis of his right Achilles. The Lakers don't seem to be overly concerned, and reports say structurally the Achilles is fine. He's likely to miss Monday's game vs. OKC, and nothing has been said beyond that.
So are his injury and his disappointing-for-him play to this point related? It seems hard, given how much his name pops up on those mandatory injury reports the league mandates.
Next, we look at the team's odd inability to score effectively n the fourth quarter. Saturday against Detroit, the Lakers went the last four minutes of regulation without a bucket. It's not the first time that has happened. In fact, even while they're currently 6th leaguewide in 4th quarter offensive efficiency, over their last five games the Lakers are 23rd. They've looked too often like the team that stood around so LeBron might bail them out. What accounts for the drop off?
Finally we look at a pair of comments from Alex Caruso. First, he said the Lakers need to avoid getting bored in games, which set off a couple alarm bells for sure. But does Caruso mean the Lakers are complacent? Or are they just not above human nature, which generally tells people they can let up a little after building a big lead. And it's Starts, they're Just Like Us," LeBron James edition.
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