Anthony Davis said it was crucial that the Los Angeles Lakers win their final two games before the all-star break, and the big man ensured that it did. Davis led the way for the lakers to a 16-point victory over the jazz, with lebron james missing on a back-to-back basis. The lakers now have won six of their last seven games and are four games behind.500 going into the break.
The lakers seem to be a team that is finally united and playing good basketball, according to davis. the lakers are now able to establish their identity as a fast-paced team that attacks the rim and plays a tough defense, according to davis. And he wants to make sure they keep playing this way after returning from break, via spectrum sportsnet: “yeah……. i’m sure they’ll keep playing this way.” We are not what we want to be, but who we are. We need a name for it, and we need to have one. We’re just starting to establish that we’re going to be a fast-paced squad.
A team that likes to get into the paint and get to the line, but also be tenacious on the defensive end. We’re also creating an identity for what we’re going to do. We can’t wait until the all-star break, and what kind of squad do we have? Or, this is who we are and all that. We are this way. We had to make sure we’re playing as we’ve been playing for the past two, three, and four weeks, keeping the same identity and carrying it forward after all-star era.
The lakers seemed to be a much more cohesive team even in their only loss to the denver nuggets on this stretch, which is a positive thing to see going forward.
Davis understood that the lakers could’ve let this game against the jazz slip away because they had some built-in excuses, but davis is glad they didn’t let it happen: “when it comes to the los angeles lakers, there is no excuse.” Even if it’s a legitimate excuse, no one is concerned.
So, for us, coming in and making sure we have a mindset of winning this game just because this team is just below us in the standings and we’re trying to climb. And it’s just one of those trap games right before all-star, and if you get in late, you can easily fold and say, ‘alright, what, we won four out of six.’ and then just move forward and get to all-star. This is a win for a good “quality of life,” according to coach ham. the lakers now have some time to rest up and regroup for the stretch run.
They have gained some positive momentum and expect to continue improving when the games begin next week. And with davis playing at this level, they will undoubtedly continue on this course. anthony Davis has been a consistent player on both ends of the court all season, and with his performance, he could be a real contender for the defensive player of the year award. But after being passed over in previous years, the lakers’ big man isn’t focusing on this accolade anymore.
Davis said, “i feel like i should have won it a few times, but didn’t.” “at this moment, i’m just trying to win (games.” Continue to have a presence on the defensive end, and if that seems to be in my plans for me, to win it this year, then it would be exciting for me to have one. However, in my career, i feel like i was hustled out of a few of them. It is exactly what it is. “