The Future has Arrived

Contrary to L.A.’s first two games in the bubble, this game wasn’t about its downsides. Three games in, we know perimeter defense is an issue (Donovan Mitchell torched the Lakers for 33 points). We know that LeBron James isn’t LeBron James right now. We know that this starting lineup isn’t working.

But now, we also know that Anthony Davis can will this team to victory nearly by his lonesome.

For the first three quarters of the game, Davis was the only Laker that could get things going. James continued to take a backseat, serving more as a facilitator than a scorer, and perhaps that could be a pattern for the playoffs and beyond.

It’s becoming clear that James is preparing himself for the time when he’s unable to physically will himself to the basket night in and night out. As the 35-year old ages, he’s going to have to hand off the primary scoring duties to Davis. From what we’ve seen from both players in Orlando so far, that time may be sooner than originally thought.