The Lakers made a considerable comeback in last Sunday’s game against the Pistons, that of the altercation between James and Stewart, and the feeling within the team but also in the heads of many fans was that this could be a turning point during the season. As if losing clearly against Detroit could not fall lower and the recovery without the brightest star was a sign of change. Well, it’s still time for that thought to fade of everyone’s minds. Only a few hours passed and it was seen that the bad vibes are far from being scared away from the bosom of the squad.
It was not enough that James failed again at Madison, who also did not play there last year, after the League sanction for the intentional slap of Isaiah Stewart at Little Caesars Arena. There also had to be a penalty for Anthony Davis, the second best player on this team.. The power forward had symptoms of fever during the first part of the day, it was doubtful to play and he arrived less than an hour before the game, which prevented him from doing a correct warm-up. It was another stone in the way for the Lakers, who did not give the same starting feeling in the face of adversity that they did two days before.
It is true that there was a comeback and it was not small. 25 points (54-29) in the second quarter, they became nothing when it came to the fourth act, but in the hot part of the meeting the Angelenos couldn’t sink their teeth. It is true that the Knicks are not the Pistons, but neither are they the Nets (the comparison you won’t like in NY) and continue to have a large squad to take out difficult games.
The anger that Westbrook and Davis brought out, especially in Detroit the previous game, suffocating opposing players when they saw LeBron James sent off, was not seen at Madison Square Garden. That fang was missing. The two played well for the circumstances, with very good numbers especially for the first one, but the others also play. A very valid element last season that had remained in no man’s land, Immanuel Quickley, made four triples in the fourth quarter to completely disarm some Lakers that, despite approaching a point, they did not get ahead when they had the opportunity and fell again, never to return.