It has been an up and down start to the 2021-22 NBA season for the Los Angeles Lakers as their rotation has constantly been shuffling. Players have been in and out of the lineup because of injuries, which has hurt a team already behind in the chemistry department because of the number of new faces they have.
Los Angeles has begun playing better basketball recently, winning three of their last four games. A big reason for the team beginning to find some success is Anthony Davis.
Without LeBron James in the lineup, Davis assumes the role as the unquestioned go-to player. James has missed eight games this season and in those games, we have seen some monster performances from The Brow.
Davis has scored at least 30 points four times in those games. He has scored at least 22 points in every game without James except against the Portland Trail Blazers when he played just over seven minutes and exited with an injury of his own.
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Los Angeles certainly needed every one of those points, as they have struggled whenever James has not been on the court, whether it is because of an injury or him just needing a rest during the game. Davis has done his part to change that narrative.
Following an embarrassing loss at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Davis helped lead the team to a victory over the San Antonio Spurs in their last game. Davis scored 34 points to go with 15 rebounds, six assists, two steals, one block, and only one turnover in nearly 40 minutes of play.
It was a performance that head coach Frank Vogel commended, as Davis set the tone for his team following a bad game all around for the team.
“Anthony really imposes his will on this game,” Vogel said of Davis. “I think he, probably more than anyone, was unhappy with how last game unfolded and he was intent to impose his will.”
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That is the exact kind of performance that the Los Angeles Lakers hopes to receive whenever James is sidelined and Davis has been able to provide them this season. Despite a historically poor start with his 3-point shooting, the former Kentucky product has still found a way to dominate every night.
