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What the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff starting five should be

By Jonathan Kiernan

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers great injured teammate Anthony Davis prior to the start of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on March 15, 2021 in San Francisco, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 15: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers great injured teammate Anthony Davis prior to the start of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on March 15, 2021 in San Francisco, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers Anthony Davis
(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Los Angeles Lakers Power Forward: Anthony Davis

With Anthony Davis signing a 5-year $190m contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, it is fair to say that AD is the present and the future of the Los Angeles Lakers.

When healthy, the future of the purple and gold is in exceptionally good hands. There are few players in NBA history who have done and are doing what Anthony Davis is doing.

Tim Duncan has been the gold standard for power forwards since he entered the league, rightfully so, he was dominant from day one. By year 3 in the league, Anthony Davis was already drawing comparisons to the big fundamental. Lofty comparisons for any player.

Anthony Davis has proven that the comparisons are earned.

AD is the best defender in the NBA, he proved that in the playoffs last year when he destroyed everyone in his way, it took superhuman performances from Jimmy Butler to even make Davis look human, even then Davis still locked him up and sealed the title in 6.

Like LeBron James, Anthony Davis has been suffering from injuries this season. Davis played the vast majority of the playoffs last season with a severely damaged heal.

Davis did not get sufficient time to rest his body and the lack of time off has caught up with him.

The Lakers did the right thing and rested AD as much as they could to allow him to get his body right in time for the playoffs.

With the Lakers sliding down the standings, Head Coach Frank Vogel put Davis back in the line-up and while it may be a risk to do so, the best thing for Davis at this moment in time is to try and play these games and work himself back into elite form.

He is slowly but surely doing that.

The rest of the NBA better watch out if Davis hits the heights he is capable of. There is a reason why he was in the MVP conversation last season alongside his fellow teammate in LeBron James (who was the runner-up).

LeBron and Anthony Davis have a special bond on the floor that due to injury they haven’t been able to show much of in the 2nd half of the season.

If they can get some reps together before the playoffs and be in top shape then they should make teams pay for thinking that they are falling off.

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