For the first half of the Los Angeles Lakers’ season-opening loss to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday at Ball Arena, Anthony Davis kept up with Nikola Jokic. Davis had 17 points at the half, while Jokic had 19.

The second part of the film told a different story. Davis’ box score was still 17 points when the clock struck zeroes in Denver’s 119-107 triumph. On 6 of 17 attempts. 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks. A team-low -17.

The Joker (who hadn’t played basketball in two months) finished with 29 points, 12-for-22 shooting, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, and a team-best +15.

It’s number 82. The Lakers had other problems in this mid-October basketball game — on the road, on Ring Night, against the league’s finest team defined by unequaled consistency buzzing around the world’s best player.

However, there were some recurrent worries, not the least of which was Davis’ waning aggression. Darvin Ham and the Lakers urged Davis to attack as a three-level scorer throughout last season and into training camp. Davis himself promoted the Nuggets rematch. Nonetheless, Davis was perplexingly inconsistent.

Ham defended AD’s willingness to “play the right way” and look for open teammates, like he always does. Ham, as usual, put the onus on the coaching staff to get Davis the ball in the right places. There must have been a fault in the matrix.

“Just trying to move him around and attack and play downhill,” he said. “I had some unlucky misses. It was going on there for a while. We were kept close. I just want him to be really aggressive. Pick and roll, him grabbing the ball in trail position, and direct post-ups are all examples. All I want is for him to be aggressive.”

Davis first blamed his absence on missed baskets and defensive changes by the Nuggets. He eventually tracked down the genuine perpetrator.

“(Denver) began double-teaming. They were attempting to suffocate the paint. I missed multiple simple layups around the rim, as well as some tiny jumpers. Just trying to make the correct decision and get it to our men… But I just need to film it more.”

For reasons other than AD, the Lakers’ 2023-24 season opener felt taken from last season (it was their seventh straight opening night setback and sixth straight loss to the Nuggets). They hung tough with the champs yet again, but didn’t convert as many important buckets. D’Angelo Russell struggled yet again against Denver. scores off turnovers (20) and second-chance scores (17) tormented the Lakers.

“That’s what killed us in the conference finals,” LeBron James remarked of the transition defense and lack of rebounding.

LeBron, who wants Davis to take over the team more than anyone else, was the Lakers’ most effective scorer. James scored 21 points on 10-for-16 shooting in 29 minutes. He must realize Davis’ poor performance is untenable, especially if LeBron is only going to play about 30 minutes each game.

So, yep, the Lakers’ season has begun. Their difficulties in dealing with their most serious rival in the West, on the other hand, are nothing new.