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Los Angeles Lakers: 2 things fans must see in Anthony Davis’s return

By Jason Reed

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court during player introductions before the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2021 in New York City. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court during player introductions before the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2021 in New York City. 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 Elsa/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Anthony Davis to actually play like a center

Anthony Davis playing center is the thing that every NBA fan has wanted for years and it just has not happened yet. Davis is the perfect modern center and if he just adopted his game as such he could put up dominant stat lines similar to Joel Embiid. He certainly has the talent and we have seen him have a truly historic postseason in LA where he played mostly center.

Yet for whatever reason, despite saying in the offseason that he would commit to playing more center, Davis has not embraced that role. The Lakers still had to go out and bring in two centers from the 2000s in Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan. That should tell you all you need to know.

Davis has to play more center not just for the success of his team but his own success as well. Davis was the worst jump shooter in the league before suffering his injury and that is because he was forced to act like a stretch four when he is not a stretch four.

The team’s floor spacing was terrible with Westbrook driving to the rim and the Lakers having either Jordan or Howard clogging the paint as well. It kicked Davis out of where he makes his money and as a result, he was putting up the worst numbers since his rookie year.

The Lakers have embraced a small-ball lineup without Davis and now they must embrace one where he is effectively the five (it is not small-ball because Davis is not small). Give up on trying to be a three-point shooter and be the elite two-way big man that you were born to be AD.

Next. 50 greatest Lakers of all-time. dark

Give us a starting five of Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk, Stanley Johnson, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Sub out Talen Horton-Tucker for Westbrook in crunch time and we are set.

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