4. Could Ed Davis be an opening day starter?
Out of all the great performances last night, no one player’s stock rise as much as Ed Davis’. Davis came in on what was known to be a great value contract, but if last night was any example, he could be a fantastic find. Whether it be an early sign of the rotation or just coach Byron Scott looking to get more minutes for younger players, Davis was the last healthy big man off the bench, behind Robert Sacre and Julius Randle.
That won’t last long.
No big man on the floor last night played as well on the defensive side of the ball as Davis did. His four blocks were a game high, but he altered shots as well. On top of that, he excelled as the roll man in the pick-and-roll, finding himself on the receiving end of many Jeremy Lin assists (which we’ll get to).
If Byron Scott is really as focused on defense as he’s led on to be, starting Davis might be a viable option. Taking over Boozer’s spot, Davis and Hill would provide an athletic, defensive front court.