DETROIT — The Lakers’ 3-0 start to the season already feels like a distant memory.
With their 115-103 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday at Little Caesars Arena, the Lakers (4-3) have dropped three of their last four games – all coming on the road during their ongoing five-game trip – after opening the season with three consecutive home victories.
Their lone win since leaving Los Angeles last weekend came against the Toronto Raptors on Friday.
The Lakers conclude the trip against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday at FedExForum.
“We’re just two different teams right now,” Anthony Davis said after the loss to the Pistons. “One game we’re this team who showcased it can be one of the better teams in the league. Then the next, we’re this team who – I don’t even know who we are.
“So, we just got to be better. We just got to be better as players to come out, execute the gameplan and do what we’re supposed to do on both ends of the floor.”
There was uncertainty surrounding Davis after Monday.
Davis, who’s averaging an NBA-best 32.6 points, was gimpy late in the fourth against the Pistons after LeBron James assisted him on a floater with 4:46 remaining.
The Lakers called a timeout 1½ minutes later, with Davis lying on the floor and getting his left foot looked at by team trainers before finishing the game and saying postgame that he has been managing the issue since the summer.
“My goal for every game is to be on the floor,” Davis said. “And I just kind of landed directly on the spot that’s been killing me. So, we’ll figure it out.”
When asked about the severity of the foot issue, Davis responded: “I don’t know. I’m not sure to be honest. We’ll see. But we’ll take it a day at a time and kind of see how it feels and where it goes.”
When a reporter asked James about the status of the Lakers if Davis’ foot injury sidelined him for any time, Davis interrupted the question, saying, “He’s not out. You already asked that question.”
The Lakers can’t afford to be without Davis for a prolonged stretch.
They’ve had a net rating (point differential per 100 possessions) of plus-1.1 in the 142 minutes Davis played in the first four games of the trip compared to a net rating of minus-28.5 in the 50 minutes he’s been on the bench.
The Lakers have cratered on both ends of the floor without Davis on the trip: they’ve had an offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) of 116.4 and a defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) of 115.4 with Davis on the floor vs. a 93.6 offensive rating and 122.1 defensive rating with him sitting.
“I don’t play the ‘if’ game,” James said. “We’ll go off what AD says and see how he feels over the next couple of days and go from there. But it don’t take a rocket scientist to know (the impact) if AD’s in or out. Come on.”
The Lakers, whose defense ranks No. 25 (117.6 defensive rating), are still looking to shore things up on that end of the floor after taking an even further step back during the trip. They have a defensive rating of 119.9 on the trip.
Coach JJ Redick mentioned transition and pick-and-roll defense as areas of improvement on Sunday.
On the season, the Lakers are allowing, according to Synergy data on the league’s official website:
28.4 points in transition per game (No. 29), 1.21 points per possession in transition (tied for No. 27);
8.7 points per game to roll men in the pick and roll (No. 27) and 1.36 points per possession to the roll man (No. 30);
19 points per game to ball handlers in the pick and roll (No. 23) and 0.98 points per possession to ball handlers in the play type (No. 23).
Opponents finish possessions in transition or pick and rolls 43.8% of the time against the Lakers.
“We just need to start the game with a little more just pride defensively,” Redick said.
LAKERS at GRIZZLIES
When: Wednesday, 5 p.m.
Where: FedExForum, Memphis, Tenn.
TV/radio: Spectrum SportsNet/710 AM