When the Lakers won the NBA Finals in 2020 I thought AD was now a top 5 player in the league. I was wrong and my friends remind me I said that everyday. I just couldn't get over how great he played during that playoff run. AD averaged 28 and 10 on 57 percent shooting from the field. I thought he would get better and eventually take over the team from Bron. That did not happen AD suffered major injuries which resulted in him missing 86 games over the next two seasons. Fans and analysts would gang up on him and call him Street clothes, A-Disney, soft, Always damaged. I mean if you watch the Lakers play you will see him grab almost every part of his body after some contact. I knew Laker fans are tired of seeing him slip and fall trying too help Bron. AD had no choice too remind folks that he was still an elite player especially when other big men have been on the top of their game. Nikola Jokic just won back to back league MVP's, Joel Embiid has been Dominate taking his game to another level and Giannis who already had 2 MVP's, Defensive Player of the Year honors, won a championship and a finals MVP. AD has responded this year he is averaging 27 points and 13 rebounds on 57 percent from the field. Over his last eight games AD is averaging 33 points,15 rebounds, 4 blocks, shooting 63 percent from the field, 37 percent from three, and 87 percent from the free throw line. He has been amazing.
Tonight AD just had a terrific game against Giannis in the Bucks where he was the best player on the floor by far. He scored 44 points and grabbed 10 rebounds letting the best player in the world Giannis Antetokounmpo know that he was ready for the challenge. The Lakers are a really good team when AD takes charge. LeBron could get more rest and become more of a play maker instead of having the pressure to do the heavy lifting for the team. When AD is rolling that pick and roll with him and Bron is unstoppable. We saw it tonight the Lakers have so many options with that a layup, a bounce pass to AD, a lob too AD or a Bron mid range jumper. I always thought Anthony Davis was a top 3 dender in the league. He's one of the best rim protectors in the world and can also get out and defend guards and wings off pick and roles. When AD is playing like HIM the whole team is different and has a certain swag to them.
Now that AD is back to playing like his championship self what is next for him? Can he sustain this? I think he can this is the level of play that AD is expected to play at. The level that the Lakers expected him to be playing at not only for one season but for many seasons when they traded away their future to get him. The Lakers with AD playing like this can make a deep playoff run especially since the West is all over the place. Anthony Davis is an all world talent, an Olympic champion, an All Star , an All NBA player, the player who delivered Coach Cal his only NCAA championship and he's the player who can take the Lakers to the next level. AD is HIM!
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