In the aftermath of a major comeback win over the Suns on Friday, Lakers star LeBron James spoke up on the plan moving forward for his team. While he may be the most accomplished of the bunch, James says that Anthony Davis must be the primary focus if the Lakers are to succeed in the West this season.
“It’s very important that he’s the main focal point for us every single night,” said James, via Dave McMenamin. “We know what he’s going to do defensively, but offensively we have to find him in multiple places on the floor throughout the whole game. And we’ve done that through two games.”
The Lakers are off to a 2-0 start for the first time in years after back-to-back wins over the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns. With mostly the same roster as last year, nobody expected the Lakers to be in play for the title but their play out of the gate and during the preseason indicates that they might be better than the critics initially thought.
The biggest difference is undoubtedly JJ Redick, who has the Lakers playing with purpose, passion, and cohesion on the court — which is a big contrast to last year’s toxic situation. During games, Redick is quick to make adjustments and he’s implementing strategies that are bringing out the best in Anthony Davis.
The 9x All-Star has really taken a step up in recent years and the past two games have been some of his finest work yet. On opening night, he led all scorers with 34 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 assists in 38 minutes. Against the Suns yesterday, he finished with 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists on 11-18 shooting.
At 31 years old, Davis is just entering his prime and he should still have years left ahead of him as an All-NBA athlete for the Los Angeles Lakers. But with such an extensive injury history, the biggest obstacle for Davis might just be staying on the court when it matters the most.
Under Redick so far, there have been no restrictions for Davis and both he and LeBron James have plans to play in every game this season. Unlike in years past, however, James can’t be the one to lead the show. At 39 years old and with 21 years of experience, it’s time for LeBron to wind down and pass off the mantle of leadership to his All-Star teammate.
Fortunately, Anthony Davis looks more than up for the task — and with his skills as a shot blocker, finisher, and rebounder, he’s in good shape to succeed as the captain of the team. This season, alongside LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura, Anthony Davis could be in store for his best season ever and it should put the Lakers in a position to compete for a top spot in the West.
With averages of 35.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game on 53.7% shooting through two games, Davis is on track to be an early MVP candidate and it’s exactly what the Lakers need him to be to stand any chance against the NBA juggernauts.
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