"This was an embarrassing, pathetic performance" - Chandler Parsons blasts Anthony Davis' display in a 41-point loss vs. Miami
With the Los Angeles Lakers dropping five of their last seven games, their matchup against the Miami Heat presented an opportunity for a much-needed turnaround. Facing a team that is also struggling to find consistency, most expected Anthony Davis, who has been playing at an MVP level, to carry his team to a win. However, "The Brow" was one of the worst players on the floor, recording the game's worst plus/minus as the Purple and Gold suffered a humiliating 41-point loss.
Naturally, AD received a lot of criticism for his performance, with Chandler Parsons being among the loudest.
Parsons slams AD, Lakers
At the start of the 2024-25 campaign, Davis was phenomenal, averaging 31.1 points and 11.2 rebounds over his first 12 games. However, his scoring average plummeted to 22.8 points over the next eight games, coinciding with the Lakers' struggles. This drop in production has only increased the team's reliance on LeBron James, and that didn't benefit the Lakers or the 39-year-old superstar.
"The King" scored 29 points on Wednesday night to keep the Lakers competitive' against the Heat—no other player could even score half as many points as LeBron. Davis, in particular, had eight on 3-of-14 shooting and registered more personal fouls than steals or blocks.
Speaking on the Run It Back show, Parsons vehemently criticized the Lakers' supporting cast and AD, particularly, for their lackluster outings at the Kaseya Center.
"I found myself googling last night what club was open Tuesday night in Miami because the Lakers went. That's the only thing that I can think of is that they got super lit the night before and they just didn't care and they were chalking it up… This was an embarrassing, pathetic performance…. This had nothing to do with basketball," Parsons said. "He (Davis) did not care, to me, it's the most concerning part… I know it's early in the season, but this is when you look back at it like, 'Man, this is detrimental to the game.'"
Davis needs to be dominant
While James has been good, averaging 22.3 points in his 22nd season, the Lakers' success ultimately hinges on Davis. It's understandable that the 6'10" forward won't deliver MVP-level performances every night, but his inconsistency, paired with a lack of contributions from his teammates, spells trouble for the Lakers.
More importantly, the team's insistence on shooting threes—they are the fourth-worst team in the league in three-point percentage—rather than playing to their strengths by attacking the paint and utilizing their size and athleticism seems more concerning.
If JJ Redick's group wants to compete for playoff berths in the Western Conference, they need "The Brow" to lead by example, and he needs to show more heart and effort than he showed in a loss against the Heat.
