The Los Angeles Lakers are making a strong case for being the most mercurial team in the NBA. From game to game, few know quite what to expect from a squad that's defeated some of the best in the NBA, fallen to several of the worst, and been on both ends of blowouts.
As the Lakers search for answers and consistency, their franchise player has stepped up to call the team out for its erratic tendencies.
Los Angeles is 12-9, sitting just four games back of the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder. Unfortunately, the Lakers have lost by at least 25 points in three of their past six games, going 2-1 during the other three—the epitome of how the 2024-25 regular season has played out.
In a post-game interview posted by Spectrum SportsNet, Davis perfectly summarized the issues that the Lakers have experienced in 2024-25.
Davis may not have found the resolution to the Lakers' woes, but the fact that he's openly acknowledged them is a step in the right direction.
Anthony Davis calls Lakers out for dreadful inconsistency
Los Angeles' season can be summarized by how they've strung together wins and losses. They've won three and six consecutive games across separate sretches, and have gone on three different losing streaks of at least two games.
The Lakers have also secured an average margin of victory of 7.8 across 12 wins, but have suffered nine losses by an average of 16.8 points per game.
21 games in, the Lakers have already lost four different outings by at least 20 points and six by double-digits. On the other side of the coin, they've generally excelled in close encounters, going 10-3 in games decided by 10 points or less.
The Lakers simply don't seem to have an answer when games begin to get away from them—and it's becoming a common trend in recent weeks.
The primary source of that issue is how erratic they've been on defense. Los Angeles ranks No. 10 in the NBA in offensive rating at 113.8 points per 100 possessions, but checks in at No. 24 in defensive rating at an abhorrent 116.7.
JJ Redick and company are 6-2 when they hold opponents below 110 points, but they're also 6-7 when they fail to do so.
Redick has now been tasked with finding a stronger balance between containing the opposition and allowing them to score at will. It seems like an obvious flaw to fix, but through 21 games, the resolution has eluded players and coaches alike.
If the Lakers are going to live up to the obvious potential they've displayed in 2024-25, then having the franchise player call them out would be a great start to fixing this undeniable flaw.
