The Los Angeles Lakers have witnessed a roller coaster start to the 2023-24 NBA season. They currently sit sixth in the West with an 8-6 record. Having said that, the team suffered heavy losses last week due to the absence of formidable duo LeBron James and Anthony Davis. However, AD played through his hip spasm injury to allow LA a chance to fight.
Anthony Davis, the new leader in the making, has been a force to be reckoned with for the Lakers this season. His all-round skills have remained on full display. Not only that, Davis is bossing around by unleashing his elite defensive skills. Recently, the center forward opened up on his mindset while playing defense for LA.
“I’m Everywhere,” Anthony Davis Opens Up On Motivation Behind Playing Defense For LA!
In a recent revelation, Anthony Davis, the dynamic power forward and center for Los Angeles Lakers, offered insights into how he adapts to his defensive role within the team. Known for his exceptional defensive prowess, shot-blocking ability, and versatility, Davis plays a pivotal role in shaping LA’s defensive identity. This season, across 12 games, he has had 3.5 blocks and 0.8 steals per game and holds his opponents to 34.5% shooting from three. Not only that, AD is leading Defensive Player of the Year odds by +550 points. Meanwhile, Davis recently opened up on the importance of defense and how he likes to provide his team an edge by acing the defensive role.
While speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Anthony Davis said he likes to be a complete defensive player for the Lakers. “I’m the D-line. The linebacker. Safety. Cornerback. Everything. I’m everywhere,” said Davis. The idea behind this is to allow the rest of the squad to focus on scoring by pressuring the ball. He wants to instill trust in his teammates to go all out from the front, knowing that he is handling the backcourt. “I just try to be the anchor for the guys, knowing that they got protection on the backline and give them enough confidence to go out and pressure the ball,” concluded Davis. Undoubtedly, Davis’ contributions to the defense have remained underrated. Nonetheless, if he continues to ace the role, it would boost LA’s championship campaign significantly.
Davis, LeBron Leads Lakers To Narrow Win Over Rockets!
The Los Angeles Lakers redeemed themselves from back-to-back losses by surviving a narrow contest against the Rockets on Sunday. LeBron James’ 37 points night, paired with Anthony Davis’ 27 points, guided LA to a nail-biting 105-104 win over the Rockets. Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura also posted notable contributions by coming off the bench.
Having said that, LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ workload is something the Lakers need to focus on. Both of them are playing through injuries despite the tournament being in its early stages. The season is still very long, and preserving the fitness of the team’s pillars should remain the team management’s top priority.