Suns-Lakers: 5 takeaways as Anthony Davis helps erase 22-point deficit https://t.co/XkNlOor0mO
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) October 26, 2024
1. Redick might be ready for the job
He arrived with a coaching resume lighter than the supermodels who sashay around Crypto.com Arena and yet, based purely on how the Lakers are performing in his system, JJ Redick looks, shall we say, experienced?
There is a noticeable chemistry and cohesion to the Lakers, especially offensively. The ball is shared and the scoring is balanced. The supporting players around LeBron and AD seem confident and purposeful.
“The other night we played his game plan to a T and trusted his defensive schemes. Tonight was a different type of game,” said Davis. “Down 22, that’s when the trust has to really kick in, the coaching has to kick in. J comes in at halftime, telling us ‘we’re alright, settle down, we know what we’re doing wrong.’
2. Davis looks unstoppable again
For the second straight game Davis was the power source offensively, scoring 35 points against the Suns after opening the season with 36.
Aggressive and forceful, Davis is option A and it’s a role both he and the Lakers are embracing.
“The positions where I’m getting the ball, it’s effective,” he said. “And when my teammates are playing well it opens the floor and opportunities for me.”
3. Suns and defense are still under development
Mike Budenholzer is coaching the Suns because the club constantly collapsed defensively last season under Frank Vogel.
Well, the Suns can change the coach, but until they either find better defenders or develop a better defensive mindset, that side of the court might still be problematic.
They surrendered 71 second-half points to the Lakers and a team with such certified scorers as Durant, Booker and Beal couldn’t keep up with that pace.
4. LA, the sports epicenter
Biggest cheer of the night came when the Suns hit a third-quarter 3-pointer. The reaction wasn’t for the shot, of course. It was at that precise moment when Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series.
5. Two Jameses still on the roster, for now
When the Lakers schedule was announced, it fell in place for Bronny James almost as neatly as the Draft. That’s because the road game in Cleveland would be early enough in the season — Wednesday, actually — to warrant him playing in his other “home” town.
So it’s very likely that after this upcoming six-game road trip and that stop in Cleveland that Bronny will likely get sent to the South Bay Lakers of the G League for developing.
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