Lakers News: Why Anthony Davis’ Historic IST Stat Line Is Meaningless
One could say your Los Angeles Lakers have 100% of all NBA In-Season Tournaments in those tournaments' history.
Sure, there's just been the one, but still.
LA went 8-0 in tournament play en route to securing the first-ever NBA Cup. On Saturday, the Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers in the Championship Game, in a 123-109 blowout.
LA superstar center Anthony Davis, who really seems to be cementing his case for his ninth All-Star team this season and potential Defensive Player of the Year consideration -- assuming he stays healthy -- had his best game of the year, scoring 40 points on 16-of-24 shooting from the floor and 9-of-13 shooting from the charity stripe, pulling down 20 boards, dishing out five dimes and blocking four shots.
That's quite a stat line.
But, for now at least, it's going to be relegated to the dustbin of history.
Malika Andrews of ESPN writes that, until Saturday, no Laker since Hall of Fame center Wilt Chamberlain in 1971 had notched a 40-point, 20-rebound, and five-assist evening.
Unfortunately Andrews adds that the championship contest doesn't count towards the NBA regular season, however, meaning that it will not improve his (still-good) current averages of 22.7 points on 53.3% shooting from the floor and 83.7% shooting from the foul line, 12.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, and a steal. The In-Season Tournament, much like the Play-In Tournament, currently is in a weird statistical limbo, as neither is officially considered the playoffs nor the regular season.
At some point, that will change. But not yet.
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