The defending champions LA Lakers didn’t have an ideal start to their playoff season as they lost their opening match against Phoenix Suns by 99-90. In fact, the Lakers finished the league stage in seventh place but there are high expectations from them.

However, they were disappointing in their performance in the opening postseason match and there is no doubt that they will need to pull up their socks in the coming matches. The team’s talisman players Anthony Davis and LeBron James recorded 37 minutes on the court.

However, Davis was not at all impressed with his own performance. AD went for a shameful negative 18 in the +/- with a poor field shooting of 31.3%. Thus, the 28-year old failed to show up in the team’s opening match of the playoff stages and took the blame on his shoulders for the team’s loss.

Davis couldn’t deliver the goods for the team and stated that there is no way they are winning it if he continues to play like this.

Anthony Davis said in the post-match conference, “No way we’re winning a game, let alone a series, with me playing the way I played…”

On the other hand, LeBron James top-scored for the LA Lakers with 18 points and also provided 10 assists. James defended Davis and stated that it is never depended on a single player.

LeBron on AD taking the blame for Game 1 loss: “It’s never just one guy, but I love when AD puts that pressure on himself.”

The LA Lakers will aim to bounce back in the second match of the playoffs. The second game against Phoenix Suns will take place on Tuesday night.