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Lakers

Five takeaways from Lakers’ loss to Pelicans

Anthony Davis, Carlos Boozer
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New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, left, dunks over Lakers forward Carlos Boozer during the first half of Wednesday’s game.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Jeremy Lin, Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans
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Lakers guard Jeremy Lin, right, drives to the basket in front of New Orleans Pelicans forward Tyreke Evans, left, and guard Jrue Holiday during the first half of the Lakers’ 109-102 loss Wednesday.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Omer Asik, Carlos Boozer
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New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik , left, falls to the court while battle for a loose ball with Lakers forward Carlos Boozer during the first half of Wednesday’s game.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Kobe Bryant
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Lakers star Kobe Bryant looks on from the bench during the final minute of a 109-102 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Anthony Davis
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New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis falls to the floor while chasing a loose ball during the first half of Wednesday’s game against the Lakers.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Anthony Davis, Jordan Hill, Carlos Boozer
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New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, left, battles for a rebound against Lakers center Jordan Hill, middle, and forward Carlos Boozer during the first half of Wednesday’s game.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Kobe Bryant, Austin Rivers
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Lakers star Kobe Bryant, right, shoots over New Orleans Pelicans guard Austin Rivers during the first half of Wednesday’s game.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Jordan Clarkson, Omer Asik
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Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson, left, puts up a shot over New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik during the second half of the Lakers’ 109-102 loss Wednesday.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Kobe Bryant, Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson
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Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, center, is unable to put up a shot as he drives between New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, right, and forward Ryan Anderson during the second half of the Lakers’ 109-102 loss Wednesday.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Tyreke Evans, Jordan Hill, Carlos Boozer
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New Orleans Pelicans forward Tyreke Evans, center, drives to the basket in front of Lakers center Jordan Hill, left, and forward Carlos Boozer, right, during the first half of Wednesday’s game.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Austin Rivers, Ronnie Price
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Lakers guard Ronnie Price is called for a flagrant foul 2 while trying to block a shot by New Orleans Pelicans guard Austin Rivers during the second half of the Lakers’ 109-102 loss Wednesday. Price was ejected from the game.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Jordan Hill, Jrue Holiday, Omer Asik
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Lakers center Jordan Hill, middle, battles under the basket with New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday, left, and center Omer Asik during the first half of the Lakers’ 109-102 loss Wednesday.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Anthony Davis, Ronnie Price, Xavier Henry
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New Orleans Pelicans forward Darius Miller, center, battles for a rebound with Lakers forward Xavier Henry, left, and guard Ronnie Price during the first half of Wednesday’s game.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Anthony Davis
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New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis dunks during the second half of a 109-102 win over the Lakers on Wednesday.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Paul Pressey, Byron Scott
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Lakers Coach Byron Scott, right, and assistant coach Paul Pressey look on during the second half of a 109-102 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
By Mike Bresnahan

The Lakers are struggling. Again. Here are five takeaways from their 109-102 loss Wednesday at New Orleans. The game was nowhere near as close as it looked, the Pelicans leading by 17 before the benches were emptied in the final minutes.

1. Defense, defense, defense. Byron Scott said before the game that he hoped the Lakers would be “the initiator. Hit first.” Instead they got belted, giving up 60 points in the paint. Somewhat pathetically, they even tried to play zone defense for a bit. Ugh.

2. Anthony Davis introduced himself to the Lakers last November, humbling Pau Gasol via full domination. On Wednesday, he made 12 of 16 shots for 25 points. And added 12 rebounds. With six blocked shots. If there’s a more dominant big man in the game on both ends of the court, please let me know.

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3. Carlos Boozer made six of 13 shots, the fifth time in eight games he’s made fewer than half his shots. Not a great look for a player with career accuracy of 52% before this season.

4. Ed Davis continues to work hard near the basket, taking 11 rebounds and blocking two shots in 27 minutes. He also had eight points.

5. It borders on the macabre to look ahead at the Lakers’ schedule but they play host to San Antonio and Golden State this weekend before next week’s road trip to Atlanta, Houston and Dallas. Uh-oh.

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Mike Bresnahan

Mike Bresnahan previously covered the Lakers for the Los Angeles Times. He started the beat in 2004, a month after Shaquille O’Neal was traded, and covered several seasons of mediocrity before the Lakers won back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010. Now they’re back to mediocrity. Bresnahan is from Los Angeles, started with The Times after graduating the University of Wisconsin in 1994, and has also covered the L.A. Kings, pro beach volleyball and numerous colleges and high schools. He left The Times in 2016.

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