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

Is Anthony Davis a center that can play power forward or a power forward that can play center?

David Grubb:

"AD should be playing center. He’s always been most effective at the center spot. He just doesn’t want to do it. He’s said as much. He doesn’t want the physical toll of playing in the post. It was a source of conflict with both coaching staffs in New Orleans. But the greatest insight into Davis’ mindset probably comes from his high school coach, Cortez Hale. First, let’s remember that AD won a total of 14 games his final two years in high school. Here’s the quote: “He has no ego,” says Hale. “He doesn’t think of himself as a star.” Long-time NBA writer Ric Bucher summed it up even better back in 2015, “The men who watched Davis evolve from a defensive stopper and spot-up three-point shooter to the one-man, inside-outside threat who helped Kentucky win a title before being drafted No. 1 in 2012 believe wholeheartedly in two things about Davis. The first: He can be every bit as dominant as LeBron James is right now. The second: He won’t be unless someone makes him.“ Who’s going to make him?"

This is not going to be a debate because the NBA that is being played together mandates that AD plays the center role. David Grubb is absolutely right.

Davis does not want to to play the five spot and plainly stated it in his first press conference. The only thing that has kept this issue under wraps is the fact that JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard has played outstanding as a tandem.

Now that scheme is starting to fall through and Anthony Davis may no longer have a choice.

• JaVale McGee has been awful in the NBA bubble.
• Dwight Howard has been plagued with foul issues.
• Vogel will not give Markieff Morris big minutes.

Assuming the Los Angeles Lakers survive Portland, they can’t use the centers against Houston, and Denver. Both Howard and McGee can’t guard to the 3 point line. AD is the only option.

On the offensive end, this is why AD should play the five. What center can stay with him on the break or in the pick and roll?

On the first play:

Watch how Anthony Davis just glides past Jusuf Nurkic on the fast break. Instead of floating to a area and waiting for a pass, he goes straight to the rim.

Lebron hits him with the pass and he dunks the ball before Nurkic knows what is going on.

On the second play:

Remember when no one in the NBA could stop the Lakers pick and roll? What happened? In this play here, AD feigns setting the pick and slides straight to the basket. 

LeBron hit him with the pocket pass at the rim. Portland’s small lineup leaves C.J. McCollum as the guy to rotate over to rim protect. Like that’s going to happen.

With the small ball lineups, the Lakers will face, AD playing the center spot will get the Lakers two things.

Easy baskets or get the opposing front line in foul trouble.

Read on to see if Rajon Rondo’s return will help Anthony Davis get untracked!