This is what can happen at the beginning of a season when they find a team that is done and another that has signed up to 12 players. The Suns, practically with the squad that took them to the last Finals, had no problems enforcing their law at the Staples Center, where the Lakers had a bad night in which internal disputes ended up taking center stage. In the end, 105-115 for the visitors and the feeling that the gold and purple have a long way to go to become the team they want.
The truth is that Frank Vogel’s did not start badly. LeBron James and Anthony Davis played well – that’s what they always do – and in the first quarter they finished ahead (26-23). They were competing, but it all disappeared in the next two quarters. Adding the second and third the result was 71-41 in favor of Arizona. Such was the blow that in the middle of the third period, Monty Williams’ men won by 32 points… Those were when the tension shot up and we saw how Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard almost came to blows after arguing. There are questions to be resolved in the Lakers, and doing it while losing is not easy; And it is that Magic Johnson himself has made reference to such an altercation, pointing out that he had never seen something like this in Californians.
The positive note was put by Russell Westbrook. The point guard was more intoned than in his debut and touched the triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists. He needs to improve to be the ideal complement to LeBron (25 points and 5 assists) and Davis (22 points and 14 rebounds). Who does not generate any doubt is Carmelo Anthony, who was once again the best off the bench with 16 points and 5 rebounds.
(Photograph by Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)