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Los Angeles Lakers: Can Anthony Davis really handle the pressure?

By Ronald Agers

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 05: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 05, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 05: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 05, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Anthony Davis
(Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Why Anthony Davis struggles when recognizing and reacting to double teams:

David Grubb:

"Because he is not great at anticipating the defender. When he posted his career-high in assists last season, people thought he had turned a corner as a facilitator, but that was due as much to the amount of space he was given in the Pelicans offense. He doesn’t get that with the Lakers, and the team does not have a great set of cutters to make it easier for him. It’s not a problem that I’d spend too much time worrying about though, there are more important short-term improvements he has to make."

If Lake Show Life hadn’t laid enough reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers are missing Avery Bradley. One of his most underrated talents was his ability to make cuts and move without the ball. Over the season restart, most of the other guards, particularly Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Danny Green are running to 3 point shooting areas.

To illustrate what David is talking about with noticing double teams, we pulled up a game where AD struggled in the seeding games against the Indiana Pacers.

  • Instead of establishing himself down low, he tries to create off the dribble. With the guards struggling with their shooting, it’s an easy decision to show hard and double team.
  • Watch how T.J. Warren slides down for defensive help and AD does not see him. When Davis goes into the spin, Warren simply breaks up the play and steals the ball.
  • In a tie game, watch how long it takes Davis to get back on defense. 
  • Late in games, Davis will have to post up and fight for position down low and accept the interior pass and make a quick move to the basket to beat the double team.
  • Why? If the Lakers shooters continue to struggle, opponents will pack the lane and do what you see here.

Another problem that Anthony Davis has is actually receiving the ball and holding it too long. There have been instances where he catches the ball on the wing and he waits on the double team. But that is attributed to the lack of aggressiveness and physicality.

Here’s where things get blurry when it comes to Lakers offensive and defensive schemes. Read on to answer this question.

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