The Lakers’ reality check, Anthony Davis’ MVP form and more trends from first 5 games https://t.co/kGWBsS9EqX
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) November 1, 2024
Davis’ MVP-caliber play
My bold prediction entering the season was that Davis would finish in the top five in MVP voting. So far, that seems reasonable. He won Western Conference Player of the Week for opening week and has easily been a top-five player to open the season.
Role-player development
Los Angeles has been vocal about the constraints of the new collective bargaining agreement, and how it’s causing teams to prioritize depth and development. Two role players, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, have popped to begin the season, looking more like their 2023 selves. Redick has talked both up in his news conferences and empowered them as the No. 3 and No. 4 options within the offensive hierarchy.
Perimeter defense concerns
For as well as Reaves and Hachimura have defended at times, they’re both better as complimentary defenders and not primary wing stoppers. And therein lies the primary issue facing the Lakers.
Improving in the possession battle
An early emphasis for Redick and his coaching staff has been trying to make up ground in the possession battle and create greater advantages along the margins.
It’s not a reality check, these were all the same issues myself and others have been bringing up since mid-summer. Reaves and Rui compete hard, in the NBA that’s generally just not enough. You need talent and/or high skill levels in things like footwork, how to fight through screens, and recognizing a leak out on the break. These are the things we’re struggling with.
They both score the ball fine. But not dynamically. They’re solid role-players and why they’ve made Reaves nigh untouchable gets sillier every season. I assume there isn’t a grade trade for him out there, at least not yet, and that is a smart move. No need to trade solid players for a “Well I sure hope he’s as solid here as he is on team ____”
In general, without Vando, the team’s defense is the biggest question mark and, under Reddick, they’ve taken a pretty decent sized step back. It’s early, though, and a lot of that can be corrected by cleaning up little things on both ends. But it needs to start happening sooner than later or this will end up defining the season.