Locked On Lakers podcast is your daily ticket to stay ahead of the game and the first to know the latest news, analysis, and insider info for the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA. Hosts Andy and Brian Kamenetzky, who have covered the Purple and Gold since 2005 for media outlets including the LA Times, ESPN and The Athletic, offer traditional journalism, informal commentary, and offbeat humor to provide expert, local analysis. Locked On Lakers takes you beyond the scoreboard for the inside scoops on the biggest stories from within the Lakers locker room and all over the NBA. The Locked On Lakers podcast is part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.
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Anthony Davis Sets Goal to Be Available for All 82 Games, Reveals Wrist Injury Last Season
Monday at Media Day, LeBron James noted that his biggest problem over the last few seasons has been availability. Once an iron man, James is now a much larger injury risk. Still not larger than Anthony Davis, though, who has struggled to stay in the lineup throughout his career. Wednesday in El Segundo, the Lakers forward said his goal this year is to be healthy enough to play in all 82 games. That doesn't mean the Lakers won't rest him, but it means his body won't be the reason he misses games.
So nobody thinks 82 is a reasonable number for most players, let alone Davis. But is 70 a fair expectation? 65? What's the threshold past which the number is too high for anyone to have faith it'll come true?
Meanwhile, speaking of injuries, Davis revealed Wednesday that last year he was struggling with a wrist problem that he says hurt his follow through. Did it hurt his numbers? Not necessarily. In fact, not that the 3-point shooting was good at any point, but it actually seemed to improve a little after January, when Davis said he hurt it. (Of course, he barely played in the second half, so there's that.) So is the moral of the story that fans should be comforted that his poor-by-his-standards work was the result potentially of another injury? That we should all be concerned because there was another injury? That in the end, he's just not a good 3-point shooter and everybody needs to stop trying to make that happen?
Yes?
Finally, the Lakers have their own drama around Russell Westbrook and it gets a lot of attention, because he's a huge name and the Lakers are the Lakers. But look around the league - Brooklyn, Boston, Phoenix... these are all teams with title hopes and serious, serious issues. The situation with DeAndre Ayton and the Suns, for example, is way more consequential to the season than any tension with Russ and the Lakers. LA, it should be noted, might benefit from lower expectations this year. Yes, if they lose it'll be news, but only the half-hearted variety because nobody really expects excellence from this group.
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: Anthony Davis says his wrist was a problem last season. How should we feel about that?
SEGMENT 2: Davis wants to be available for all 82. Maybe we set the bar at 70?
SEGMENT 3: Other teams have real problems, too, Lakers fans. Always good to remember.
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