Nothing was as expected or predictable as the Lakers surprising the Wizards the next night after defeating the Clippers by a wide margin. This was going to be an unbearably close game from the beginning.
On the one hand, the objective of the season right now is to win by whatever means possible. In a playoff race, the outcome is more important than anything else. However, I must say that it was a terrible process.
The most important thing, it seems to me, is that they won back-to-back games and gained significant ground in the postseason race. However, you do not feel very well after finishing this game.
Let us now assess the victory. As usual, grades are determined by the standards set for each participant. The average performance for the player is indicated with a “B” grade.
35 minutes, 4-11 FG, 0-2 3PT, +7, 8 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
A strange evening for Rui. He was combative, yet he had strange difficulties. He blew a layup on a pass from LeBron, then he missed an easy slam. When we get back to the method vs. results debate, I believe Rui started off well; he just did not finish them, as he usually does.
Right now, he was playing tough. Rui was one of the Lakers’ perimeter defenders who put on an intense display on Wednesday.
Rui Hachimura
35 minutes, 4-11 FG, 0-2 3PT, +7, 8 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
A strange evening for Rui. He was combative, yet he had strange difficulties. He blew a layup on a pass from LeBron, then he missed an easy slam. When we get back to the method vs. results debate, I believe Rui started off well; he just did not finish them, as he usually does.
Right now, he was playing tough. Rui was one of the Lakers’ perimeter defenders who put on an intense display on Wednesday.
Grade: C-
LeBron James
39 minutes, 24 FG, 2-5 3PT, 5-7 FT, -5, 31 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
LeBron had a few little flaws that bothered me, like as the way he acted strangely carelessly with the ball for a while late in the fourth quarter and early in overtime. But given that he only scored 65 points on consecutive nights on 25–45 shooting, it is difficult to pinpoint holes in his performance.
He is exerting every effort to help this squad overcome their slump. All we can do now is hope they regain their offensive rhythm once more.
Grade: A-
Anthony Davis
40 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks, 14–22 FG, 12–13 FT, +6 in 41 minutes
Even though he was always quite influential, AD had not had a significant statistical game in a long time. He had one on Thursday, oh boy.
There were no answers at all from the Wizards for him. The Lakers continued coming back to him even after he completely destroyed them. Additionally, he made additions to his defensive highlight reel.
