Los Angeles Lakers: 5 lessons from win vs. San Antonio Spurs

AD was consistently solid throughout the night! A double-double being solid? Let that sink in? 

Anthony Davis finished the game with 25 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. But it was on the defensive end that he made the most noise. The San Antonio Spurs superstars were almost non-existent in the game.

LaMarcus Aldridge was held to 8 points on 2-of-9 shooting. He was ineffective and looked soft in the post. AD basically outplayed him.

Plus he found time to get back on transition defense to block shots.

Derrick White really had a tough night. Here he got his lay-up thrown into the photographer’s row and the shot he took from Howard will have him up at nights. This was considered an okay night compared to his past performances in his short stint as a Laker. Why? Because he is starting to spoil everyone with his skill set.

What 7-footer do you know has the ability to do a step back that with work will challenge James Harden? Then have the ability to shot a fadeaway that cannot be blocked?

This play is what will make the Lakers a favorite for the NBA championship here when the offense catches up with the defense.

This play here shows AD posting up DeMar DeRozan in the post. Sound the BBQ chicken alert (Shout out to Shaq!) as Davis scores easily. This play is important because the Lakers went to this play, time and time again, late in crunch time forcing the switch to get this matchup. Every time the Lakers either scored or got to the free throw line.

After the third or fourth time, Rudy Gay basically moved DeRozan out-of-the-way to guard him as LeBron knew to exploit the matchup every time the Spurs switched.

What AD is bringing now is the ability to force teams into bad matchups. LeBron James for the second game in a row is taking advantage of this and it’s working well late.