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3 Reasons the Los Angeles Lakers are still contenders

By Nick Halden

Mar 9, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) drives against Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) in the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Houston Rockets won 139 to 130. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) drives against Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) in the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Houston Rockets won 139 to 130. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 5, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) stands on the court as he warms up before the game against the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) stands on the court as he warms up before the game against the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Could the version of Anthony Davis the Lakers saw in the bubble return?

Anthony Davis is such a frustrating player to root for, a player who seemingly doesn’t play to his level of talent. Laker fans saw exactly what Anthony Davis was capable of during the championship run in the bubble. Anthony Davis shot the ball outside unexpectedly well and was a menace inside the paint.

Since then the Lakers have played a season and a half and Davis doesn’t appear to be the same player. Still, with plenty of time to get healthy for a play-in game could this version of Davis return? At the level LeBron James is playing right now elite Anthony Davis with James would be more than enough to put fear into any team in the Western Conference.

Davis is still working his way back but if you’re the Lakers why rush him? With only a handful of games left it is better to ramp Davis up just in time for the play-in and hope the version of Anthony fans saw in the bubble returns for the playoffs.

If this were to happen there isn’t a team in the West that wants to see the Lakers in the first round. This includes a Suns team that dispatched the Lakers last season. Anthony Davis is the missing piece if he can be the player he was brought to Los Angeles to be the West still is in trouble.

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