How important is Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers?
Of course we saw all that he brought to the team last year. For he was the missing piece that the team needed to get over the hump.
If you watch the Lakers when he is out of the lineup, you will of course notice a major difference in the team as Davis is a rare player that brings multiple talents to the team and is one of the only one’s on the roster that possesses them. Without him, the Lakers do not have anyone else that can do what Davis does, night after night.
He is by far one of the greatest players in all of the NBA and as we examine his game further, we will see just how important he is, why his talents are one of a kind, and how important he is to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Why Anthony Davis is so important to the Los Angeles Lakers:
Low Post Game: Watching Davis in a great performance against Boston, something occurred to me. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that he was playing against the Celtics, but he reminded me of the great Kevin McHale with his low-post game.
Davis is wonderful in the post, keeping the ball away from defenders and feeling which way to roll off of them. It is an underrated skill in this modern game of three-point frenzy.
Jump Shot: Davis has a sweet touch for a big man. Whether he uses his turn around jumper, is fading away, or spotting up, there is no doubt that his shot is great. He can even knock down the three-pointer occasionally.
Defense: Anthony Davis is a solid defender. He is a great shot blocker that makes it difficult for opponents. We have seen him use his body correctly as he leans on opposing players night after night and at times has unfortunately received some bogus calls from officials.
Field Goal Percentage: Davis has a career field goal percentage of 51%. He takes high-quality shots and paces himself correctly. He has allowed the offense to come to him more now than ever in his career.
Rebounding: For years, he averaged double-digit numbers when it came to rebounds. Although that number has dipped a bit, he has led the Lakers in rebounding the last two years. That is something they needed very much in order to win it all.
Davis takes a lot of the burden off of LeBron’s shoulders. We all know that LeBron James can basically do anything. Shoot, pass, play defense, you name it. By far one of the greatest players of all time but with Davis, they both play wonderfully together and have no doubt become the ultimate dynamic duo of the NBA.
When Davis is not playing, it severely hinders the Los Angeles Lakers for he is such a valuable piece to this organization.