The Los Angeles Lakers (4-3) may not have Anthony Davis when they travel to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Davis is questionable and considered day-to-day after aggravating a left foot injury in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ loss to Detroit on Monday night.
“I’ll talk to my trainer and just kind of figure out what exactly is going on,” Davis said after Monday’s night game. “I’ve been managing it since this summer, honestly, and my goal for every game is to be on the floor. And I just kind of landed directly on the spot that’s been killing me. So, we’ll figure it out.”
Anthony Davis Likely To Miss Time, Christian Koloko’s Availability and Lakers Woes During Road Trip
While ESPN’s Dave McMenamin was told that Davis had not been ruled out for the game against the Grizzlies, he said that the Lakers would likely take a very cautious approach since the ailment has plagued Davis since the end of last season and through the Paris Olympics. Any time that 31-year-old center has to miss due to the injury will severely hamper the Lakers.
Davis has played like the best center in the NBA. The 12-year veteran is off to the best start of his career, leading the league with 32.3 points a game on 57% shooting from the field. He also leads the league in free throw attempts (12) and free throws made (9.4) while ranking 10th in rebounds (11.7) and blocks (1.7).
Davis scored 37 points against Detroit on Monday and 75 over the last two games. He has scored 29 points in six of the Lakers’ first seven contests and produced four double-doubles.
What If Davis Misses Time?
If Davis cannot play, the Lakers will be severely shorthanded, particularly up front. Jared Vanderbilt and Christian Wood remain out due to injury. Meanwhile, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Maxwell Lewis, Quincy Olivari, and Armel Traore are on G-League assignments.
A little positive news for LA is that D’Angelo Russell (foot) and Austin Reaves (ankle) are expected to continue to play through their minor injuries, per Khobi Price of the Orange County Register. Price also said he expects Christian Koloko to be active as he is not on the injury report.
Notably, Christian Koloko isn’t on the injury report, meaning he should be available tomorrow.
Koloko hasn’t played since the 2022-23 campaign ended due to a “blood clot issue.” The 24-year-old, who signed a two-way deal with the Lakers in September, was recently cleared medically cleared to play, though he had not yet been active due to “conditioning concerns.”
If Davis is forced to miss time, having Koloko available will be a godsend. The 7-footer is an athletic big with a 7-5 wingspan who is an excellent shot-blocker and offensive rebounder. However, he is very limited offensively.
If Davis is unable to play tonight, Jaxson Hayes figures to move into the starting lineup, with Koloko being the primary backup center. Hayes has been extremely productive in the early going, averaging 5.0 points on 77.8% shooting from the field and 4.0 rebounds in 15 minutes. The 24-year-old has come off the bench most of his career but does have starting experience.
While limited offensively, Hayes thrives on the offensive glass and as a rim-protector. In 52 career starts, he averages 11.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks with 60.9/34.9/76.0 shooting splits. He has nine career double-doubles, producing two last season with the Lakers.
JJ Redick Options
Coach JJ Redick could also decide to go with small lineups. This would have either Rui Hachimura or LeBron James playing the five. Both players have experience at center, with James playing about 50% of his minutes there during 2021-22.
Hachimura and James have been successful when on the floor together, posting a +9.9 points per 100 possessions, which is the best two-man combo with James. Davis and James are, comparatively, -5.0 when paired together. A couple of the Lakers’ top five-man lineups include Hachimura, James, Hayes, Dalton Knecht, and D’Angelo Russell, along with Hachimura, James, Hayes, Reaves, and (Russell or Gabe Vincent).
Regardless of Redick’s starting lineup, Hachimura and James will likely see at least a few minutes at center. Hayes has typically seen less than 30 minutes when he starts and has only seen more than 30 minutes in 15 starts. In any case, Cam Redish would likely see time at power forward alongside Hachimura or James.
Redish has played in just two games this season, totaling less than 24 minutes. But the Lakers are a +11 when the 25-year-old forward is on the floor, and he grabbed five boards in 14 minutes off the bench against Detroit.
Redick’s performance against the Pistons received accolades from Redick and Reaves. Redick said Redish “earned some trust tonight.” Meanwhile, Reaves called Reddish’s contributions the “lone bright spot” in the loss, adding, “I think Cam can be a major piece for us”
Lakers Issues
Los Angeles concludes its five-game road trip in Memphis (4-4), having lost three of their last four. The Lakers have struggled on both ends of the floor during the road trip, particularly defensively. They were outrun by Cleveland and had disappointing performances in their wins against Toronto and Detroit—two of the supposed worst teams in the league. However, the Pistons are better than they have been in the past few years.
“We’re all disappointed,” Redick told the Athletic’s Jovan Buha when told that the Lakers have been 189-158 over the last game and a half.
During the first four games of the road trip, LA has been outscored by 8.5 points a game (120.8-112.3). The Lakers have shot 45.3% from the field and 34.4% from deep, 4.6% below what they shot during the first three games and 1.9% worst from the 3-point line.
Defensively, the Lakers have allowed their last four opponents to shoot nearly 50% from the field. They have also been outrebounded by five a game, including three on the offensive end—the Lakers have only grabbed 69% of the available rebounds on the defensive end during this stretch. The Lakers also commit nearly three turnovers more than their opponents on the trip.
Los Angeles’ transition defense is of particular concern. The Lakers are allowing a league-high 20.7 fastbreak points and are allowing the second most transition points at 28.4. They have also struggled to defend the pick-n-roll, with opponents finishing possessions in transition or pick-and-rolls 43.8% of the time.
Lakers Have Cratered Without Davis On The Floor On Road Trip
Los Angeles has really struggled when Davis has rested on the road trip. According to Price, the Lakers “have a net rating (point differential per 100 possessions) of plus-1.1 in the 142 minutes Davis played in the first four games of the trip compared to a net rating of minus-28.5 in the 50 minutes when he’s been on the bench.”
Second Half Woes
Slow starts have been a problem for the Lakers all season. Los Angeles ranks in the middle of the pack in scoring in each of the first two quarters. While they were great at home in the second quarter (outscoring their opponents by 7.3 points a game), they are getting outscored by 3.3 points a contest on the road in the frame.
The biggest issue has been the second half recently, particularly the fourth quarter. The Lakers are averaging 56 points over the final 24 minutes while allowing 62. The Lakers have been outscored by 6.5 points in the final frame over the last four games. They have compiled 27.8 points, shooting just 38.6% from the field and 33.3% from the 3-point line.
While Davis and James scored the ball in the final frame (combining for over 18 a game), the Lakers outscored by over four points when both players were on the floor together in the quarter. Hachimura, Hayes, and Russell are the only players with a positive plus/minus rating of 10 Lakers who have received time in the final quarter.
