Anthony Davis Discussion: Only Player On Both All NBA + All Def

it's not that big of a problem, as we were up 8-10 points while they were doing it because other guys got to get going and had space to work.

you don't score through double teams, you pass around them. AD made the simple outlets, and when we moved the ball to the weak side, good things happened (i can recall several easy buckets for russell off this exact situation).

i'm not watching the same game everyone else is, it's clear.

 

you and I both.

I thought he played well and did what he was supposed to do when doubled. Teams are going to continue to try and force the other guys to beat them. They have to continue to step up.

AD scored when the opportunities presented themselves and played well on defense.

I was happy with his game last night.

 

Is he injured or no? Can’t tell at all.

 

From Darius Soriano ( before the Suns game)

 

pretty much all this. i said during the game that we only use him as a screener; we don't set screens for him. that changed in the second half, and it was very noticeable. this is why ham said it was on him. he started calling for guys to get AD free closer to the basket or at least force switches (like the hilarious/sad cp3 play where it took forever to get him the ball).

how people have been watching these games and insisting it's AD changing his effort or engagement level is beyond me. he's taking what's being given and what's being called by his coach and pgs.

and AD is handling the double teams by passing out of them. he's actually improved as a passer this year, imo, but he's never going to be jokic or vlade or something. last night, he made the right passes to get the ball moving, and when others did the same, we got easy buckets. this forces teams to switch up their looks, which the suns did, and when they did, AD punished pretty much every isolation he had.

 

We have a bunch of mind readers in Game Time play by freaking play …. amazing. Lots of “nuance”.

 

yes, i'm now aware that the nuance i miss is simply imposing pre-packaged narratives on whatever's happening.

and before i'm accused of the same, i was one of the first to call out AD's poor play and effort to start last year, iirc. it's not like i don't think it's possible; it's just that you can't use FGAs and points as the barometer of his effectiveness. do that for devin booker. but that's not AD's game.

 

I pretty much agree with Abeer re AD. Need to get him closer to the basket and use more off-ball screens for him or even using a guard to screen for him when he catches the ball near the perimeter.

I expect AD to punish OKC tomorrow and if we can run similar actions for him, we'll get him going early and that'll really open up the offense for everyone.

But I will also say that AD doesn't need to do as much because we have more offensive firepower on this team now and we can score in a variety of diferent ways. Not to mention defensively, Vando has been a huge help for AD so he's also not having to exert as much on that end either.

 

…. speaking of the play by play mind reading with regard to heart, effort and pain tolerance …. play by freaking play, with proclamations that often …. does @donalddrumpf post anywhere else on LB? Asking for a friend.

 

It’s actually okay to acknowledge when a player has a bad half and then acknowledge as well when he suddenly turns it on the second. I’ve never called him a bum. I just call it like I see it. No need to get over emotional just because he’s your favorite player.

 

lol, yes, i'm definitely the one who gets in their feelings about anthony davis. good lord have you read this forum and the game chats?

and he's definitely not my favorite player; i just get incredibly tired of watching most of the fanbase not appreciate great players while we have them, simply because they're not giannis.

 

I appreciate him him when he decides to play up to his potential.
I also appreciate him when he’s not in street clothes for half a season, every season.
When those things happen, he’s a great player.
I’ve stated this many, many times before.
I guess we can never question any Laker’s effort here on this site, even when it’s based in facts and reality.

 

once again, i've questioned lots of guys' effort at various times. the AD stuff is ridiculous here. and consistently so. in the game chat it's like people wait for him to do anything wrong: miss a shot, not get a rebound, miss a FT, and then just go ballistic. it's nuts, tbh.

BISMACK BIYOMBO BLOCKED THE BETA! yeah, biyombo still has job for basically one reason. sometimes he blocks a shot.

 

If he's able to play the rest of the games and the lakers finish strong: why shouldn't he win DPOY?

From the eye test and metrics, Lakers go from abysmal to a really good defense when he plays

 

because the media feels the same way about him as the fans. maybe it's backlash from his trade demand or something.

i can't think of the defender i'd prefer to have on my team.

 

The Lakers are basically tied for the Bucks with the best-defense in the league s/p All-star break
AD Defensive Raptor on 538 is second best after Caruso (Lakers could have had him and reaves sigh and sigh again) and AD is holding that stuff together unlike the Bucks who literally have 3 potential DPOY candidates Lopez, Giannis, and Jrue all starting