After missing a number of games with a toe/foot injury, Andre Drummond had a good showing in his first full game. Over the course of 27 minutes of play, Drummond put up a double-double. Ultimately the Lakers would lose to the Miami Heat. After leading 56-54 at the half, the Lakers weren’t able to hold off their foes in the second. With a 15 point, 12 rebound performance along with 3 steals, there is a lot to be happy about with the performance.
Including this dunk:
Andre Drummond drops the hammer in his return game ?? pic.twitter.com/DWR55qTtMA
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) April 8, 2021
However, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Lakers. They did lose after all, but without LeBron or Anthony Davis in the lineup, there isn’t much to complain about. Dennis Shroder and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the team in minutes with 40 and 39 respectively. The Heat were led by Jimmy Butler and a barrage of scoring from multiple players. Six Heat players ended up in double-digits scoring. Butler had 28.
Victor Oladipo seems to be fitting in at South Beach. He looked very comfortable dropping this dunk on Drummond’s head:
DIPO posterizes Andre Drummond! ? pic.twitter.com/4EnFPPhw5O
— Heat Nation (@HeatNationCom) April 9, 2021
The Lakers are clearly focused on being healthy as they go into the postseason. Drummond has missed many games this season, as the Cavaliers looked to move him earlier, and these games will help him get ready for the Playoff run. AD and LeBron are getting healthy, and when the Lakers are at 100% they should be respected by every team in the league.
Drummond’s game will be analyzed like crazy as he plays more for the Lakers. Many will point and say that his game has fallen off or the combo of Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge in Brooklyn make him obsolete. However, Drummond’s play doesn’t need to be flashy or All-Star level to contribute to another Lakers’ title. Fans will have to be patient before we see a fully healthy roster.
