The Lakers have come a long way right from the bottom of the table to gradually getting into the top ten. Their campaign in the current season did not start well with all the issues with injuries and balance in their roster. Anyway, they have managed to pull themselves up from the 13th seed to the 9th at present. However, due to the confusion in the roster, the team suffered a lot. It took a lot of time for the front office to arrange the right mix. But after they did, the Lakers have been looking like the team on a mission. The squad suddenly rose to the play-in spots, and the credit goes to the eight-time All-Star Anthony Davis.
Anthony Davis Helped Lakers Get The Much Needed Streak
AD’s impeccable performances in the recent times have done the trick for the Lakers. But Anthony Davis says the Lakers are not yet done. They have a long way to go. In the 16 games that are remaining, they would like to continue this momentum to reach the top six to get a direct qualification. But without any doubt, it is going to be a daunting task for the Lakers to do that without their star LeBron James. The King is unlikely to return for the remaining games in the regular season.
Clearly, Anthony Davis is carrying the team like an absolute master. The latest recruits are proving to be effective with D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley. Vanderbilt explained the reason is the excellent chemistry with Anthony Davis that is helping the team to do so well. The recruit suggested that AD is easy to talk to and he communicates with the players very well. The 23-year-old forward feels the Lakers star is great at both offense and defense.
Jarred Vanderbilt Credits AD For Making The Defense Stronger
All these qualities make Anthony Davis a unique player. Both Davis and Vanderbilt share a 98.7 rating on their defense. Vanderbilt credits Anthony Davis to be the last line of the team’s defense. That makes him play more aggressively. Plus, AD is great as a forward that makes things easier for the rest, and everybody can rely on him to the utmost level. But Vanderbilt also credits the rest of the team with contributing to becoming the best defense in the current season.
Vanderbilt says other than the two of them Austin Reaves, Dennis Schroder and Troy Brown Jr. also stepped up on the right time. Jarred made it clear that it did not take a lot of time for these Lakers teammates to build an understanding and communication that was hugely beneficial for the team. For a defense to be a strong line, it generally needs more or less five players to do it. But Vanderbilt and Anthony Davis seem to overshadow the rest with their rating and rapport. However, the Lakers still have a long way to go to make the playoffs. If they finish in the 9th or 8th place after the regular season is over. The Lakers will have to put their best team forward to the play-in matches. They cannot afford any more injuries for the rest of the season.
