The Los Angeles Lakers were "upset and disappointed" by Anthony Davis' comments after Monday's Game 2 loss to the Denver Nuggets, NBA on TNT's Jared Greenberg reported Thursday.
"I can tell you, from speaking with people within the Lakers' organization, they were upset and disappointed, quite frankly, by AD's comments," Greenberg said. "Publicly going out there, and putting his coach out there like that, particularly because the Lakers clearly had a good enough understanding of the game plan Monday to take a 20-point lead."
NBA TV @NBATV"From speaking with people within the Lakers' organization, they were upset and disappointed quite frankly by AD's comments." <a href="">@JaredSGreenberg</a> shares an update on Anthony Davis' remarks on LA's coaching plus a look ahead at tonight's Game 3 <a href="">
The Lakers couldn't hold on to that advantage during their 101-99 loss to the Nuggets.
Davis told reporters after the loss that the Lakers had "stretches where we just don't know what we're doing on both ends of the floor."
Spectrum SportsNet @SpectrumSNAnthony Davis: "We have stretches where we don't know what we're doing on both ends of the floor... Just got to get it right on Thursday." <a href="">
The Lakers currently face a 2-0 first-round series deficit and are in danger of getting swept by the Nuggets for the second consecutive postseason.
After the loss, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham pushed back against Davis' comments, saying they came from a place of "frustration."
Michael Corvo @michaelcorvo_Darvin Ham said he took Anthony Davis' comments after G2 that the Lakers "have stretches when we don't know what we're doing" as "frustration", and he'll "agree to disagree" with AD. <br><br>Ham said the Lakers coaching staff prides itself on being organized. <a href="">
"I mean, I just think sometimes the plays don't turn out the way you think they should, the frustration sets in a little bit," Ham told reporters, per The Athletic's Jovan Buha. "But I don't think this was not being organized. I think I have incredible knowledge and focus all along my staff. We pride ourselves, whether it's practice, shootarounds, film sessions, games, everything, we pride ourselves on being highly efficient and organized.
"So I just chalk that up to being frustrated. It's an emotional game, with the way it ended and all of that. But I would agree to disagree on that one."
Greenberg pointed out that Davis contributed to the Lakers' early lead by shooting 11-of-12 from the field in the first two quarters, but went 0-of-1 during the fourth quarter as the Nuggets completed the comeback.
But the Lakers' issue with holding onto leads against the defending NBA champions goes back further than one quarter of limited shooting from Davis.
Los Angeles also blew a double-digit lead during Game 1, which they ended up losing 114-103 on Saturday. Davis put up 32 points and double-digit rebounds each game.
The blown leads continue a pattern dating back to May of last year, when the Lakers had an early double-digit lead in Game 4 before losing the lead and conceding the Western Conference Finals sweep to the Nuggets.
The Lakers will look to break that streak Thursday night when Game 3 tips off in Los Angeles at 10 p.m. ET.
