When Anthony Davis is playing well defensively and is on the court, the Los Angeles Lakers are a much better team.
After Davis departed the game early in the first quarter due to an inadvertent knock to the eye, the Lakers lost a crucial game against the Warriors on Saturday. LeBron James gave an open assessment of what losing Davis means, saying it alters the strategy entirely. Fortunately, Davis recovered enough to play yesterday night as the Lakers defeated the Hawks. Davis grabbed an incredible 15 rebounds at the end of the game.
Robert Horry, a former LA icon, analyzed Davis’ performance and the ways in which his defensive skills help the club.
.@RKHorry breaks down Anthony Davis' defensive impact against the Atlanta Hawks. pic.twitter.com/aG0alenjY1
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 19, 2024
In the video up above, Davis appears in three different plays. His decision to stay in the paint and block a shot is one example of this.
In an attempt to capture a crucial rebound, he contests another shot but makes sure to stay under the hoop. James receives a pass from Davis after the rebound, and James makes the basket.
Davis is always where he needs to be, as seen by his 15 defensive rebounds the previous night. The players’ constant proximity to Davis is the Lakers’ greatest vulnerability. Though in these cases the big man is usually the one offering assistance, he requires more support.
