At the NBA regular-season opener, a 12BSports reporter watched the defending champion Denver Nuggets overpower the Los Angeles Lakers in a game that quickly exposed several weaknesses in the visiting lineup. The most surprising performance came from Anthony Davis, the Lakers’ key interior presence. His shooting touch never arrived on offense, while defensively he struggled badly against Nikola Jokic. Davis was unable to impose himself on either end of the floor, leaving the Lakers at a clear disadvantage throughout the matchup.

That two-way struggle became one of the biggest reasons Los Angeles failed to keep pace with Denver. As the saying goes, without growth there is only silence, and Davis was far closer to silent than dominant in this game. His performance was especially disappointing because he had looked encouraging during the preseason. Davis had shown confidence on both offense and defense, raising expectations that he could begin the new campaign aggressively, but the regular-season opener produced almost the exact opposite result.

During the summer, the Lakers gave Davis a three-year contract extension, making it clear that they view him as a major part of the franchise’s future. From the perspective of many 12BSports followers, however, this level of performance is not enough if Davis is expected to become the true centerpiece of the team. Real maturity comes from experience and judgment rather than age alone, and for now LeBron James still looks like the Lakers’ most dependable offensive option when the pressure rises.

With Davis struggling to contain Jokic, Los Angeles eventually had little choice but to rely heavily on James in its attempt to close the gap. Yet James played only 29 minutes. After the game, he said he was always ready to stay on the floor, particularly in games that still felt winnable, and added that he believed he could have changed the outcome.

James, however, has always been willing to follow the team’s decisions even when he personally feels capable of doing more. His exceptional basketball intelligence and willingness to work within a coaching system have made him one of the most trusted veterans in the league. Head coach Darvin Ham chose to reduce James’ workload as part of a broader load-management plan, while also coordinating with the player’s personal training team to manage his schedule carefully.

Ham explained that James can become so absorbed in competition that he effectively forgets his age once the game begins. That is precisely why the Lakers believe they need to protect him from excessive minutes. With James approaching 39 at the time, asking him to carry a heavy workload throughout the regular season would create unnecessary strain. Fortunately, Los Angeles has enough depth on its roster to give him more opportunities to conserve energy.

The problem is that load management only works if the rest of the roster can shoulder more responsibility. Davis must take control more consistently, while younger contributors such as D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves need to provide steadier production from game to game. If those players can establish a dependable rhythm, James will no longer need to rescue the team whenever momentum begins to slip.

That makes Davis’ role especially important moving forward. His talent has never been in serious doubt, but the Lakers need him to translate that ability into commanding performances against elite opponents. Facing Jokic is one of the toughest assignments in basketball, yet a player expected to lead a championship contender must still find ways to influence the game even when shots are not falling. Defense, rebounding, positioning, and decision-making can all help change the course of a difficult night.

As the Lakers try to recover from their opening defeat, a 12BSports audience will be watching closely to see whether Davis can quickly regain control and allow James to benefit from genuine load management. Every storm eventually gives way to clearer skies, and Los Angeles will hope this early setback proves to be little more than a rough beginning. The season is long, but the next step is clear: Davis and the Lakers’ younger core must become more reliable if the team wants to return to winning form.