James Worthy, the Hall of Famer and Lakers legend, didn’t hold back in his critique of Anthony Davis after the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 101-93 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The defeat eliminated Los Angeles from NBA Cup contention and exposed concerning trends in Davis’ play. Worthy specifically called out Davis for his lack of assertiveness in demanding the ball during critical moments.
“AD has proven that he’s not the type of player that when he’s touching the ball, that he’s going to go over and say ‘Give me the damn ball.’ He hasn’t proven to be that guy. So he’ll fade.”
“If you say you’re running the offense through him, somebody like Rob said the point guard or during a timeout, he’s key. So, I just think they need to take a really good timeout and look at you know the first couple of weeks of the season and how they were playing and what they were doing.”
“That along with the way they used to play getting AD involved and I saw in the fourth quarter once again, it was LeBron trying to force the issue a little bit. They look like the old Lakers of like last year, two years ago, not a winning formula.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIMOC_C0i8Y
Davis finished the game with a respectable stat line of 15 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 blocks while shooting 5-of-9 from the field. However, the glaring issue was his lack of involvement, particularly in the fourth quarter, where he managed just one field goal attempt. For a player of Davis’ caliber, this passivity is inexcusable, especially in a game where the Lakers needed him to dominate.
The Thunder’s defense deserves credit for their excellent game plan against Davis. OKC frequently double-teamed him and packed the paint, making it difficult for Davis to operate. Head coach JJ Redick admitted postgame that the Thunder’s defense disrupted their game plan and acknowledged the need for better adjustments to keep Davis involved.
Davis has been having an exceptional season, averaging 28.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2 blocks per game while shooting 55.1% from the field. He started the season as a potential MVP candidate, with the Lakers running their offense through him. However, his recent performances have been inconsistent.
In the past four games, Davis has averaged just 18.2 points, well below his season average. This includes a 14-point effort against Denver, where he shot a dismal 6-of-19 from the field, and the Thunder game, where he took only nine shots.
Davis has been having an exceptional season, averaging 28.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 55.1% from the field. He started the season as a potential MVP candidate, with the Lakers running their offense through him. However, his recent performances have been inconsistent.
In the past four games, Davis has averaged just 18.2 points, well below his season average. This includes a 14-point effort against Denver, where he shot a dismal 6-of-19 from the field, and the Thunder game, where he took only nine shots.
If the Lakers are to contend in the competitive Western Conference, they must prioritize Davis’ involvement. He needs to demand the ball and take on the responsibility of being the team’s offensive anchor. The Lakers’ success this season depends heavily on Davis stepping up consistently in big moments. As Worthy pointed out, anything less won’t be enough to bring the Lakers back to championship contention.
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