[brid autoplay=”true” video=”785433″ player=”23231″ title=”Are%20the%20Clippers%20and%20other%20playoff%20teams%20afraid%20of%20LeBron%20James%20and%20the%20healthy%20Lakers” duration=”113″ description=”Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix tells Carolyn Manno that Los Angeles Lakers are the scariest team in the Western Conference and explains how other teams are strategizing accordingly.” uploaddate=”2021-05-19″ thumbnailurl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/thumb/785433_t_1621466868.png” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/sd/785433.mp4″]
Los Angeles Lakers star big man Anthony Davis was an absolute force during last season’s run to the NBA title. He averaged 27.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the playoffs. In fact, Davis could have very well won the NBA Finals MVP over teammate LeBron James.
Coming off an injury-plagued regular season, Davis was nowhere near that productive in the Lakers’ Game 1 loss to the Phoenix Suns to open the NBA Playoffs on Sunday.
The eight-time All-Star shot just 5-of-16 from the field, scoring 13 points and grabbing seven rebounds in the 99-90 loss.
Following the game, Anthony Davis took full responsibility for his team’s lackluster showing in Phoenix.
“There’s no way we’re winning a game (or series) with me playing the way I played,” Davis told reporters. “I know I’ll be better.”
Davis is not necessarily wrong. Outside of his basic stats Sunday afternoon, the Lakers actually performed better when the big man was on the bench.
- With Anthony Davis: -18
- Without Anthony Davis: +9
To put this into perspective, the Lakers were plus-two when LeBron James was on the court. All said, Davis hit just three shots outside of the restricted area. One of the reasons he was so darn good during the Lakers’ title run a season ago was an improved mid-range and three-point game. That has not been the case this season.
Yes, the Los Angeles Lakers need Anthony Davis
It became clear during Sunday’s loss to Phoenix that the Lakers need Davis to step up if they’re even going to make this a series against a Suns team that went 51-21 during the regular season.
James led the team in scoring with a mere 18 points. Dennis Schroder was second with 14 points. Outside of that, Lakers players combined for 58 points on 39% shooting from the field. Obviously, Davis’ struggles played a major role here.
Prior to Sunday’s loss, Anthony Davis averaged 20.2 points on a substandard 42% shooting from the field in 14 games since returning from an Achilles injury that cost him over two months of regular-season action.
There’s every reason to believe that he’s still getting into playing shape. Unfortunately, the Lakers just don’t have time to wait. A loss in Game 2 would force Los Angeles to have to win four of the next five games to defeat a Suns squad that lost 21 regular-season games.