SAN FRANCISCO — When he’s been at his best in the playoffs – sinking jump shots, scoring on muscular drives to the basket and generally wreaking havoc in the paint – Anthony Davis has been a serious problem for the Lakers’ opponents. When he hasn’t been at his best, the Lakers have been vulnerable.
They were vulnerable Thursday night.
The Golden State Warriors took full advantage of a neutralized Davis in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series against the Lakers, racing to a comprehensive 127-100 victory at Chase Center and sending the best-of-seven showdown to Crypto.com Arena deadlocked at one win apiece. Game 3 is Saturday.
To be fair, duplicating a 30-point, 23-rebound, five-assist, four-block game would be difficult for anyone. Suffice it to say, Davis didn’t come close to his remarkable Game 1 performance in Game 2, scoring only 11 points on 5-for-11 shooting with seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 23 points, and Rui Hachimura had 21.
“I took all the same shots I took in Game 1,” Davis said. “I just missed them. Elbow jumpers. Pocket passes to the floater. Same exact looks. Didn’t shoot any shots that I didn’t shoot in Game 1. Just missed them. That’s all. … We’ll be better. I’ll be better at making those shots. We’ll get back home on our home floor and try to take care of business.”
Lakers coach Darvin Ham pulled the plug on the game with the Lakers trailing by an astounding 110-80 to start the fourth quarter, inserting his bench players and removing Davis, James and the other starters. The Lakers were no match for the Warriors’ offensive onslaught.
“I still have to go back and watch the game (on video), but my gut feeling, my instincts tell me that my eyes saw us settle a little bit, mishandle the ball some early,” Ham said. “We were right there early on, neck-and-neck. A couple of possessions got away from us early.”
Of the Warriors’ Game 2 adjustments in covering Davis, Ham said, “I thought they did a good job of crowding the paint and not allowing us, trying to prevent us from playing downhill as much (as in Game 1). That, in turn, affects what we do at the free throw-line. We’ll go back to the drawing board.”
The Lakers shot 17 free throws in Game 2 after shooting 29 in Game 1.
“I have zero thoughts,” Ham said, not wishing to be fined by the NBA for criticizing the officiating of the Game 2 crew of Tony Brothers, Eric Lewis and Pat Fraher. “I get paid to coach. … Anything officials related, that’s on the league to look at, try to be as far and consistent for both teams.”
Klay Thompson scored a Warriors-leading 30 points on 11-for-18 shooting, and Steph Curry had 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting. The Warriors outscored the Lakers by 43-24 during the pivotal third quarter, turning a tight game into a rout. The Lakers hadn’t given up 40 points in a quarter until Game 2.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr made the first move in the chess match that followed the Lakers’ victory in Game 1. It was a move of necessity in more ways than one. As it turned out, Warriors center Kevon Looney was “not feeling well” and did not start Game 2 after grabbing 23 rebounds in Game 1.
JaMychal Green, averaging 1.5 points and 1.0 rebounds in the playoffs, took Looney’s starting spot. It had the intended consequence of giving Golden State a smaller and quicker lineup than the one Davis torched during the Lakers’ 117-112 victory in Game 1 on Tuesday.
Kerr also had Draymond Green defend Davis to start Game 2. Davis was nowhere near as effective.
“They were, for sure, dropping into the paint tonight,” Hachimura said. “I think they made a good adjustment, for sure. Now it’s our turn to make an adjustment. Next game is going to be very important for us. They might do the same thing. We’ve got to figure it out. We’re going to watch film. We’ve just got to figure it out.”
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