'Dirty little secret' that could bring down LeBron James and Lakers
NBA analyst Chris Broussard says the Los Angeles Lakers are struggling to overcome a "dirty little secret" surrounding Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond.
The Lakers brought in Drummond when the veteran centre was released by the Cavaliers in March.
But he hasn't exactly gelled with his new Lakers teammates, particularly star forward Davis.
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Kyle Kuzma has even gone to the extraordinary step of publicly calling for more minutes for Marc Gasol, rather than Drummond.
“I just don’t think we’re connected right now. I think we’re unhealthy and just not good enough," Kuzma said.
“We’re just not together as a whole - team, staff, everything.
“I wish we could get a little bit more time out there with Marc [Gasol].
“That’d be something that would be pretty good for us, for sure.”
In the six games since Davis' return from injury, the Lakers have been outscored by 56 points when he is on the court.
That marks the worst plus/minus differential on the team and is almost double the second worst.
According to Broussard, the lack of chemistry between Drummond and Davis should be concerning.
"LeBron looks concerned. I think every Lakers fan should be concerned about where this team is heading," he said on Monday.
“Anthony Davis, where are you? I mean, he hasn’t really played well all year. But he’s been even worse since he came back.
“And here’s the dirty little secret there: he’s having trouble playing with Andre Drummond.
“... Then I think they’re having so issues in the locker room. It seems like players are whispering and saying stuff, because Kyle Kuzma came out last night and said, ‘Look, we’re not together. Not as a team, not as a staff, nothing.’
“He suggested Marc Gasol get more minutes, so I’m wondering, are players looking at this like, we need him [Gasol] out there, because he spaces the floor, he opens it up for AD, he opens it up for LeBron, and Andre Drummond is pretty much doing what he does. Numbers look great ... but he’s not helping you win.”
LeBron James injury concerns linger
The Lakers were dealt another disappointing loss on Monday, this time against the short-handed Toronto Raptors.
But seeing James head to the locker room early served as a reminder it could have been much worse.
James left with 6:42 to play as the Raptors defeated the Lakers 121-114.
LA coach Frank Vogel said it was a precautionary move to pull James in his second game back after missing 20 because of a sprained right ankle.
"The first half, it feels really good. Obviously warming up for the game, everything is going well," said James, who had 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
"Last two games at halftime, you know, after the break, it's kind of gotten a little sore on me - a little tight.
"And obviously coach decided not to put me back in towards the end because of that, so that's pretty much it."
with AAP
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