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

The second half told a different tale. When the clock hit zeroes on Denver's 119-107 victory, Davis' box score still showed 17 points. On 6-for-17 shooting. Eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks. A team-worst -17.

As for the Joker (who didn't play basketball for two months)?: 29 points, 12-for-22, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, team-best +15.

It's one of 82. The Lakers had other issues in this mid-October basketball game — on the road, on Ring Night, against the league's best team defined by unrivaled continuity humming around the best player in the world.

Yet, there were familiar concerns — not the least of which was Davis' diminishing aggression. Throughout last season and into training camp, Darvin Ham and the Lakers have implored Davis to attack as a three-level scorer. Davis, himself, hyped up the Nuggets rematch. And yet, Davis was bafflingly inconsistent.

Ham, as he always will, defended AD's tendency to “play the right way” and look for open teammates. Ham, as usual, placed the onus on the coaching staff to get Davis the ball in suitable spots. Must've been a glitch in the matrix.

“Just trying to move him around and attack and play downhill,” Ham said. “Had some unfortunate misses. Had it going there for a while. Kept us close. Just want him to be all-out aggressive. Whether it’s pick and roll, him catching the ball in trail position, direct post-ups. Just want him to be aggressive.”

Davis initially cited missed bunnies and the Nuggets' defensive adjustments as the reason for his disappearance. Eventually, he identified the true culprit.

“(Denver) started double-teaming. They were trying to crowd the paint. I missed some easy layups around the rim, little jumpers. Just trying to make the right play, kick it out to our guys … But, just gotta shoot it more.”

The Lakers' 2023-24 season opener felt plucked from last season for reasons beyond AD (it was their seventh straight opening night defeat and sixth straight loss to the Nuggets). Once again, they hung tough with the champs but didn't convert as many key buckets. Once again, D'Angelo Russell struggled against Denver. The Lakers were plagued by points off turnovers (20) and second-chance points (17).

“That's what killed us in the conference finals,” LeBron James said about the transition defense and shortcomings on the glass.

LeBron — who wants Davis to seize the reins of the team more than anybody — was the Lakers' most productive scorer. In 29 minutes, James dropped 21 points on 10-for-16 shooting. Surely, he knows Davis' inadequate performance isn't tenable, especially if LeBron is going to only play around 30 minutes a game.

So, yes: the Lakers' season is one game old. Their hindrances against their most formidable foe in the West, however, are nothing new.