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Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons in LeBron’s takedown of the Warriors

By Ronald Agers

May 19, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is fouled by Golden State Warriors forward Kent Bazemore (26) in the first quarter of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
May 19, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is fouled by Golden State Warriors forward Kent Bazemore (26) in the first quarter of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Anthony Davis is now the primary center of the Los Angeles Lakers! 

It’s easy to forget that AD only played one game against Golden State this year and the Lakers lost in the Staples Center. Even though Davis put up a monster double-double on the surface with 17 points and 17 rebounds, he didn’t play well. Golden State lulled AD to sleep allowing him to shoot fadeaways that caused him to lose rhythm enough to put him in a slump for a few games.

Steve Kerr almost got Davis with the same okey-doke scheme that lasted into the third quarter.

The story of the first half was how the Warriors frustrated Anthony Davis by using Draymond Green and Juan Toscano-Anderson to body him enough to bait him into jumpers that just weren’t going.

By halftime, Anthony Davis had 5 points on 2-12 shooting.

Then there was that second half…

After Andre Drummond clogged up the middle to the point the offense stalled with him, Frank Vogel finally moved Davis to the five spot and the Lakers opened the floodgates.

When Davis was moved, the Lakers were able to small lineups around James and Davis that actually dominated the boards. His presence forced switches off Draymond Green and the Lakers buried the Warriors in the paint.

Anthony Davis finished with 25 points (10-24 shooting!), 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block. His only 3 pointer in the last quarter was huge as well.

This game has to be a learning experience for Anthony Davis. Lake Show Life has stated time and time again that AD has to come out and aggressively attack the basket to get to the free throw line. The Golden State Warriors knew they had no answer for him in the low post, the defensive game plan they used works if Anthony ALLOWS it.

4-4 from the free throw line is the measuring stick here. For the Lakers to be successful, they need their star big man to get over 10 free throws a game and foul out the opposition. Yes he can do it.

Something else has to happen to allow Anthony Davis to perform the way the Lake Show Life Lessons staff just discussed. Read on to see what the coaching staff may have to do. 

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