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The Los Angeles Lakers are currently the No. 8 seed in the West with a 13-11 record. That's been disappointing to many given the Lakers were as high as the No. 3 seed a few weeks ago, as the team has slid down the standings with roster struggles plaguing them.
Patrick Beverley slammed the franchise for their subpar play, saying that the team needs to stop playing Anthony Davis at the five and acquire a center to alleviate his responsibilities.
"Lakers are ass. Straight up. It isn't JJ Redick, none of that, it's the coaches and the players. The Lakers aren't good."
They need a five bro. A lot of people are scared to say it but you can't play AD as a five. They had success in them winning the year they won it in the bubble because they had a five. They need a five-man bro, they need to protect AD... From AD, they need 28 points and 12 rebounds and they need three or four blocks every night at the five. That's a lot on AD, and that's a lot on Bron."
"How do you protect the paint? A lot of people think, 'I'mma get a five-man to protect the paint.' But also guards can protect the paint. If you can contain a ball, the ball doesn't get to the paint to be protected. They got guys on that team that if you hit them with an in-and-out burger, motherf****s are in the corner. Now you got AD challenging everything at the rim, trying to box out the big, and then on the other end, trying to create everything. That's a lot."
Beverley even objected to the team playing LeBron James as their power forward.
"You got a 40-year-old man at the four! They need a five or a defensive guard, that's what they need. The Lakers know exactly what they need."
Beverley said a lot of things in this rant, and all of it was correct. The Lakers' problems don't fall on JJ Redick, Anthony Davis, or LeBron James, but it's a larger roster issue for which the front office should be blamed. They knew the caliber of players they had before the season starter, and they elected to bring back a nearly identical roster this season.
The Lakers' desire to add a big man has been clear for a while. Anthony Davis has previously expressed wanting to play with a big man while JJ Redick mentioned the team's need for a center in one of his first interviews after taking the head coaching job. Even Beverley said it, the Lakers know what they need.
The team is already trying to atone for their lack of center play outside of Davis by inquiring around the league for targets such as Jonas Valancuinas and Walker Kessler, with potential deals for bigs like Clint Capela possible if the Lakers are willing to give up the necessary assets.
Davis is averaging 27.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.0 block per game this season, with his early-season MVP play trailing off as he clearly looked fatigued in losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat this month.
He'll have to face the Timberwolves tonight without LeBron James by his side, which could be a tiring affair despite the four-day break the Lakers have had between games.
