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Anthony Davis Crowns Lakers Teammate as New “Baby Shaq”

Published 02/02/2024, 1:27 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

Very few people thought that the Los Angeles Lakers would get a result against the top-seeded Boston Celtics. Things got even worse for the Lakers, as hours before the tip-off reports emerged that both LeBron James and Anthony Davis will miss the match due to injuries. However, in the face of adversity, the Lakers’ supporting cast of players stepped-up and delivered one of their best performances of the season.

Players like D’Angelo Russell, Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura all made significant contributions for the Lakers. However, Austin Reaves was the star of the game. He recorded a season-high 32 points in 35 minutes of playing time. While Reaves fired the offense, Jaxson Hayes anchored the defense with Jarred Vanderbilt. Hayes played a significant role in limiting the league’s second-best offense to a score of only 105 points.

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Hayes played one of the best games of his career, recording 16 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals in 34 minutes of playing time. After the game, Anthony Davis was hyped by Hayes’ stellar performance, as he referred to Hayes as “Baby Shaq”. He said, “Yeah, baby Shaq! Yeah Baby Shaq, let ’em know! This ain’t New Orleans.” Lakers’ HC Darvin Ham also praised Hayes’ impressive showing against the Celtics in a post-match press conference. He said, “He’s learning, and him getting these real game reps has been priceless… Earlier in the season, we’ve seen him come out with three, four, fouls quick. It just shows the growth that’s in him and the reason why he’s here.”

The Lakers’ victory against the favored Celtics might act as a motivating factor for them to build momentum and finish the season on a strong note. With everyone pushing in the right direction, can the Lakers turn their fortunes around?

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Will the Lakers make an improbable comeback?

The Lakers have faced challenges in securing victories consistently, and their current position in the standings is a clear testament to that struggle. It’s no secret that the Lakers’ hierarchy are actively scanning the trade market for players that can improve their current roster. However, as of now, nothing significant has materialized.

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In recent weeks, reports have emerged that the Lakers have shown genuine interest in Atlanta Hawks’ guard Dejounte Murray. Although Murray would undeniably enhance their playoff prospects, he is not a transformative acquisition capable of decisively tipping the scales in their favor. The season is at a very delicate juncture, and the decisions made by the Lakers’ management will determine whether the team can contend for a title or if they will merely be making up the numbers.

Watch This Story: Newark local Austin Reaves gets brutally honest about Los Angeles lifestyle

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Written by:

Dushyant Singh

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Dushyant Singh is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. His basketball script journey began in 2020 when he was captivated by the Los Angeles Lakers? triumphant NBA championship win. Before that he was merely dribbling and dunking as a boy next door.
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Edited by:

Bilal Handoo