Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons from the win over the Miami Heat

Anthony Davis was not only in a zone, but he broke the Miami Heat’s zone as well

The Los Angeles Lakers fans will be spoiled with this guy. Nobody in the NBA has the skills AD possesses with his size. Sure in the first half he was putting up numbers. Davis had 16 points and 6 rebounds at the half. But it was what he did quietly in the second half that won the game for the Lakers.

Actually the Heat led briefly bringing out a zone defense that was effective largely because of the awful Lakers outside shooting. In the second half, adjustments were made and the offense was run through AD at the elbow. Either he knocked down shots that he probably does in an empty gym, or he did this.

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1193040725975289856

The Miami Heat sagged into a zone begging the Lakers to shoot from the 3-point line. In the second half, AD was camped out in the middle of the zone. LeBron hits Davis with the pass. The Heat defense is in trouble the second that he gets it and has to close. JaVale McGee has the presence of mind to cut to the basket to receive the lob from AD.

What’s exciting about this game was the adjustments being made to render the zone defense useless. If the Lakers had kept struggling, this could have been a blueprint for teams down the line. Lake Show Life message to the rest of the NBA, good luck.

Over 35 minutes of work, Anthony Davis dropped 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting with 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks. This was basically a game where Davis took what the Heat gave him. This guy is showing more of his basketball I.Q. every game. His play shows the culture of the Los Angeles Lakers early on this season. This is not about stats or highlights. It’s about winning the game, going home to rest, then repeat.

How about that other superstar dude? Old what’s his name?