The eras have changed but the Lakers‘ problem doesn’t seem to improve! The LA side continues to take L’s following their promising six-game winning streak. However, the team’s MVP candidate, Anthony Davis, found the key to solving the team’s problem and shielded JJ Redick’s early career from embarrassment. Moreover, the lingering problem seems to be the connecting link between the coaching stints of Darvin Ham and Redick.

After the embarrassing loss against the Nuggets, the Lakers took on the Phoenix Suns with a fresh mindset after Redick’s meltdown. Nevertheless, it didn’t work for the team, as they once again suffered a blowout despite a decent effort in the first half. AD should be the last guy to blame for the team’s run. The big man, struggling with a painful foot injury, has had a consistent run for the team, averaging 29.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg. On Tuesday, the superstar’s 25-point with 15 boards effort went in vain as they suffered a blowout 127-100 loss.

Following the loss, speaking to the reporters, the agitated big man had a solution for the resurrection. Anthony Davis said, “Pride. Communication. A big part of it just communicating. Covering for one another, trusting each other. We all try to do the right thing with the lack of communication that goes on… We not mind readers, so we’re not talking you… I think we just pick up our communication and we’ll be fine on the defensive end.”

Notably, it was not the first time when AD spoke about the lack of communication in the Lakers’ defense. Well, it was something that the team struggled under Coach Darvin Ham as well. Let’s find out what Davis said then.

Anthony Davis rehashed his take from the Darvin Ham era

Even though Darvin Ham was regarded as a defense oriented coach, the Lakers particularly struggled in that area. The team finished in the 16th spot in the defensive rating last season. Something which Anthony Davis wasn’t proud of. So, back then, he had delivered a similar message.

Speaking to the press, mid-season, Davis said, “For as far as the defensive end, our communication has to be better.” He further added, “We’ll talk about something and then go out and don’t do it. It’s a lot of ‘We’re supposed to do this but guys did this.’… We just have to be better at that and really lock in on our details and make sure that we do the little things and not beat ourselves.” 

Well, the team definitely didn’t improve on the little things last season.

This season, the team went off to flying start with a 3-0 run, hyping the JJ Redick era. But it quickly came crashing down after the Lakers continued to repeat their mistakes on the defense end, especially in the second half. Will the team figure out their communication issue before it’s too late? If the issue continues even after the Ham era, then the problem is with the players.

With a 10-7 record on the West, the team has slipped down to the 6th spot. Can the players fix their communication issues and get the team back on top? Let us know in the comments.