This year, Anthony Davis has led the Los Angeles Lakers to the playoffs after a remarkable turnaround. He is leading the squad in both offense and defense. Moreover, the LA side has got an expert rebounder in the form of Anthony Davis. However, there have been games when AD has been a big disappointment. Those games have not ended on a happy note for the Lakers generally. But the team can depend on LeBron James and other quality youngsters who have performed exceedingly well.
The LA team was in deep trouble at the end of February when James became unavailable for almost a month. It was at that point Anthony Davis took charge of the team and helped the Lakers make the postseason. However, AD could not have done it alone. Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Dennis Schroder, Jarred Vanderbilt, and everybody chipped in. All these players’ contributions helped the Lakers in their journey to reach the playoffs. But there is tension building among the fans and the front office of the Lakers about the inconsistent form of Anthony Davis.
Lakers Need Anthony Davis To Find Consistency
Experts like Charles Barkley have time and again criticized AD for his inconsistent performances. Barkley could not see the Lakers’ star among the greats of the game because he was due to another bad game. According to Barkley, a great player is never due to a bad game. Even the Lakers head coach Darvin Ham suggested that his team needs to play like champions and display that level of caliber. Coach Ham extended his statement as “Leaders need to set the tone of the team. Furthermore, they need to get the most out of all their teammates on the court. The leaders must handle pressure situations well.”
A leader must make all possessions count. How can a player set the tone for the team? A leader must display consistency if the team needs to be a champion. Apparently, the Lakers have come a long way to reach the second round of the playoffs. The purple and gold brigade has done very well to lead the series 3-1 at present. Anthony Davis has spearheaded the offense and been like an anchor in the defense for the team.
How Inconsistent AD Has Played In This Season?
The inconsistency of AD’s leadership can be explained by what happened in the series against the Golden State Warriors. In Game 1, he led the Lakers to victory scoring 30 points and 23 rebounds. However, in Game 2, Anthony Davis only scored 11 points and seven rebounds. Moreover, in Game 3, he scored 25 points and got 13 rebounds. That has been the kind of season for Davis.
But now, the Lakers star will need to buckle up if he wants to be counted among the greats who played for the franchise, like Jerry West and Magic Johnson. The Lakers will need Anthony Davis to be more focused and disciplined. Hence, the mindset is what separates a great from an ordinary player. Therefore, the Lakers cannot afford to lose because of any mistakes arising out of the inconsistent leadership of Davis.