Anthony Davis Adds Playmaking to His Arsenal, Boosting Lakers’ Offensive Prowess

Los Angeles Lakers’ star Anthony Davis, renowned for his scoring and defensive prowess, has recently showcased a new dimension to his game—improved playmaking. In the Lakers’ decisive 17-point victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Davis not only contributed 28 points and 12 rebounds but also distributed nine assists. This marks a trend, as Davis has recorded at least five assists in four of the last five games, including an impressive career-high of 11 against the Utah Jazz.

LeBron James attributes Davis’s enhanced passing skills to learning from one of the NBA’s greatest passers, himself. “He’s learning from me how to pass out of the post,” LeBron stated after the victory. The Lakers’ star forward has been diligently working on expanding his playmaking abilities, and LeBron believes that as long as the team capitalizes on opportunities by making outside shots, opponents will eventually cease doubling Davis.

LeBron emphasized the importance of Lakers’ shooters making shots to dissuade opponents from double-teaming Davis, creating favorable offensive situations. As the Lakers’ shooters, including LeBron, continue to find their mark from beyond the arc, the threat of outside scoring will make it increasingly challenging for teams to defend against Davis in the post.

Anthony Davis’s ability to punish opponents for double-teams adds an extra layer of danger to the Lakers’ offensive arsenal. However, the key to unlocking the full potential of this strategy lies in consistent outside shooting. While LeBron is enjoying a career year from three-point range, contributions from other shooters like D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Taurean Prince, and Christian Wood will be crucial in elevating the Lakers’ offense to new heights.

Looking ahead, Davis believes that defensive efforts will be pivotal to the success of the Lakers’ starting lineup. Emphasizing the importance of playing strong defense, Davis stated, “If we play defense how we did tonight against anybody, then we’ll put ourselves in a position to win basketball games.” He highlighted that a collective commitment to defense, coupled with contributions on the glass, will be instrumental in securing victories for the Lakers.