Los Angeles Lakers: 5 Reasons they may already have their “Big 3”
By Robert Marvi
![LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 21: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans dunks the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 21, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 21: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans dunks the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 21, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/52b582b2af2805fe4e81a38c75e3f73481752b37e2e61fba4c8b7957ab488cae.jpg)
3. Anthony Davis is an elite rebounder and rim defender
On past LeBron teams that won the NBA championship, Chris Bosh and Kevin Love handled the duty of being the team’s lead rebounder. Bosh also eventually evolved into a solid defender, although he was never an elite defender or shot blocker.
Well guess what: Anthony Davis is.
This season he averaged 12.0 rebounds a game along with 2.4 blocks per game. On three other occasions he has led the league in rejections per game. He has also been named to three All-NBA Defensive teams.
With LeBron having to conserve his energy at the defensive end as a concession to his advanced basketball age, Davis can make life easier for him and other teammates at that end by making up for mistakes they make and giving them a more comfortable margin of error so that they can trap and press more often.
We haven’t even mentioned the fact that Davis is an elite scorer, which will also take the offensive load off of LeBron to some extent.