Lakers News: 2 Key Things Anthony Davis Must Improve For LA To Nab Another Title
Whenever you play for the Los Angeles Lakers, there is going to be pressure to win. It’s just who this organization is, and it demands excellence.
When the Lakers are winning, it’s the best thing in the world. But when the team loses, it hits twice as hard as in other organizations.
Not every NBA player is built to make it as a member of the Lakers, and it may seem cliche, but players will tell you that it’s an entirely different feeling altogether.
Entering this upcoming season, there are plenty of players across the NBA that are under pressure to win. But one in particular comes from the Lakers, and the overall success of the team depends on him.
That would be All-Star big man Anthony Davis. Since his arrival with the team, LA has gone as far as he goes. It’s that simple.
Davis is the most important piece to this Lakers team, even with LeBron James on the roster still. When Davis is healthy and locked in, the Lakers are a very tough team to take down. But when he misses time or isn’t aggressive, it changes the entire dynamic for LA.
“L.A. needs Davis to be consistently dominant. He can do that, but it hasn't always happened. He gets lost in the offensive shuffle at times and has more fluctuation with his production on that end than you'd expect of a player with this kind of talent.”
Per Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report
He recently just signed a massive extension to remain with the Lakers long-term. Now it’s time to earn that contract.
James is entering his 21st NBA season, so he can’t carry a team like he used to be able to. This is Anthony Davis’s time to show that he can be “the man” for the Lakers.
In addition to playing more consistently on the court, Davis needs to remain healthy. He has dealt with some unlucky injuries in the last few seasons, so health is one of the main concerns going forward for him.
“More than that, though, he needs to simply be available more often. He hasn't topped 60 games in the past three seasons and last cleared the 70-game mark in 2017-18. With availability becoming an increasing issue for James, L.A. must be able to count on having Davis.”
Per Bleacher Report
Davis remains one of the best players in the league, and the Lakers are lucky to have him. But this season is going to really show us what he is really made of.
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