Los Angeles Lakers: Why Ed Davis Needs to Start

November 1, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward

(21) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward

(5) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Lakers are not a very good basketball team. With nary a win in their first 5 games, the Lakers are in for what looks to be an awfully long season. A team already lacking in talent has also been hit particularly hard for the 3rd consecutive season with injuries.

No Nick Young, Xavier Henry still not healthy to contribute regularly, no Steve Nash, and Julius Randle‘s season ending injury just to name a few. But there has been one very bright spot to this season so far: Ed Davis. Here’s why Ed Davis needs to start.

Live Feed

Rubbing the Rock

So far this season, Davis is averaging 10.4 points on 66% shooting with, 7.2 rebounds, 1.4 blocks with a 24.33 PER through the first five games of the season. Oh yeah, and Davis did all of this in just 22 minutes per game.

Compare this to current starting power forward Carlos Boozer, who is averaging 10 points on 44% shooting, with 5.6 rebounds, a 10.73 PER and just generally terrible defense in 26 minutes per game. Boozer has been an even larger disappointment than fans expected him to be. His inability to do anything productive harms every aspect of this team.

On the other hand, Davis looks electric when he plays. He is by far the Lakers best post-defender and has an energy to him that reminds you of when Jordan Hill first broke onto the scene with the Lakers.

Davis also has shown an ability to run pick-and-roll with Jeremy Lin, which Boozer hasn’t displayed. Davis is a willing screener and rolls hard to the rim. His jump shot won’t pull any defenders away from the basket, but the Lakers just need to find one thing they do well on offense.

Moving Davis from the bench into the starting lineup should have a three-fold effect on the team.

First, the defense will improve just because Carlos Boozer is no longer on the floor.

Second, by pairing Jeremy Lin with two willing pick-and-roll partners in Ed Davis and Jordan Hill, the offense should look much better than it has in the past.

Third, by moving Carlos Boozer to the bench, perhaps his efficiency will rise. By playing against 2nd and 3rd string big men, Boozer should be able to get off higher percentage shots.