Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons in marathon win against the Phoenix Suns

Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers love you. But take some advice and sit down the next game!

Well, it seems that no one else wants to say it so read it here. Anthony Davis is injured. Not banged up, no bumps and bruises, but injured. It’s time for the Lakers to be smart here and sit Davis down against the Golden State Warriors. This is a marathon and not a sprint.

*Update; Davis was announced out this afternoon for rest.

Davis added to the bumps and bruises column, banging with Aron Baynes and the other Suns’ big men. He actually left the game to get his ribs taped. If you are scoring at home, he now has a bad right shoulder and sore ribs. Time for a little load management.

The man should rest from a back to back after playing 38 minutes scoring a team-high 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting, with 12 rebounds (three offensive!), four assists, two steals and a block.

Oh, that’s right, Anthony Davis had two body bags too.

Add the Phoenix Suns to the list of teams that can’t stop the pick and roll.

Ricky Rubio will probably be on the Lakers season highlight reel for the rest of the year. LeBron James somehow splits the arms of Kelly Oubre Jr. and Baynes and leaves Rubio on the wrong end of a business decision getting dunked on.

But it was what Davis did on the perimeter that turned the game around. When it looked like the Suns were rolling, Davis was fouled by Baynes on a 3-point shot. It was considered a flagrant one and AD knocked down the free throws and the Lakers kept possession of the ball. That was the turning point of the game when the Lakers gained momentum.

There will be conflicting conversations on who is the best player in Los Angeles whether it is Kawhi Leonard or LeBron James. They can’t do this.

https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1194451823190429696

The man dunked the ball and Dario Saric in the basket, got the foul and showed the NBA (Like again!) why the Lakers have a definite shot to go to the NBA Finals. Before we start with the “I’ve seen LeBron James do that plenty of times!” comments, remember Davis has a bad shoulder.

This dude, if he can stay healthy, can be as dominant as Shaquille O’Neal. Different era, different rules. But with how the game is called today, the man could be unstoppable. Plus, Shaq never shot 89% from the free-throw line.

NBA, you have been warned.