Zach Lowe predicts LA Lakers doom without Anthony Davis: "The Lakers have no shot on defense without [him]"

The LA Lakers are currently 13th in the Western Conference and have struggled in the absence of big man Anthony Davis.

The Lakers as a whole have struggled with inconsistent defense, falling to 22nd in the league in defensive rating after previously being in the top 10 earlier in the season. LeBron James is putting up good numbers, but the team has lost five of their last six games and needs a quick revival in order to emerge as playoff contenders.

When the Lakers brought in Patrick Beverley, it was expected that he would bring strong defensive skills to the backcourt, similar to Avery Bradley and Danny Green in the previous season. However, due to the Lakers' lack of wing depth, Beverley has had to play a different role, often as a two-guard defender against the opposing team's ball handler. This has had mixed results.

With Anthony Davis not expected to return anytime soon, ESPN’s Zach Lowe has predicted an even further decline for the yellow and purple outfit.

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Zach Lowe believes LA Lakers will continue to struggle without Anthony Davis

It's clear that the LA Lakers will struggle without their star big man. Their defensive performances have been subpar, ranking 28th in the NBA with a 115 points per 100 possessions rating. Since Anthony Davis was injured, the team has allowed 122.5 points per 100 possessions.

Additionally, the Lakers are struggling on the glass and forcing no turnovers, making it easier for opponents to score. The team's lack of physicality makes it even harder for them to defend.

Zach Lowe claimed the defensive struggles would continue if 'The Brow' does not return:

“Man, this is ugly. The Lakers have no shot on defense without Davis. They appear to know this, and that gutting knowledge saps their effort -- and accelerates their implosion. It is a cycle of despair. Every defensive possession is one continuous blurting sad trombone.”

With any playoffs contention looking dubious, Zach Lowe believes that the Lakers should start focussing on next season already:

"The Lakers are 'only' three games from the play-in, but there are two teams between them and the No. 10 seed, and they are also only three games ahead of last in the West. The upcoming schedule is tough. The season is spiraling. There is no point in trading picks to prop up this sad group if 'The Brow' is out. Celebrate LeBron breaking the scoring record, get Davis healthy, use cap space wisely and take another shot next season."

While the team has struggled as a whole, LeBron James is well on track to beat Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record, which might prove to be the only reason to celebrate for LA Lakers’ fans this season.