Why the Lakers will shock the Warriors (and the world) on opening night
By Nick Halden
2. The Warriors lack a winnable matchup with Anthony Davis
This is completely dependent on which version of Anthony Davis shows up for the Lakers tonight. It was only two years ago that Davis was considered a top-five player and one of the most unstoppable forces on the inside. His struggles shooting the ball and lack of effort offensively at times have quieted that conversation and have Davis as a question mark entering the season.
However, if Anthony Davis plays to the level he is capable of against the Warriors the Lakers will be surprisingly competitive and have a chance to win this game. Green isn’t the defender he has been in years past as the Warriors lack a clear winnable matchup with Davis defensively.
Davis should be able to bully the small lineup the Warriors prefer to run. Even if Golden State adjusts and puts a true center on the court for a large portion of Anthony’s minutes, neither of Golden State’s options at the position has the size to keep Davis away from the bucket.
The Lakers’ easiest path to victory tonight is Anthony Davis showing up as the elite player he is capable of being and refusing to settle for jump shots. This Warriors team cannot keep him off the glass and that should be the focus for the Los Angeles offense to start the night.