Anthony Davis displayed such exceptional defensive skills that he decided to speed up the process of blocking shots on Friday against Memphis Grizzlies in Game 6. Instead of waiting for Ja Morant to release the ball, Davis streamlined the process on one possession during the first quarter.
Anthony Davis didn’t just block Morant’s shot, he also managed to grab the ball out of Morant’s hands before he could shoot. Using only one hand and barely leaving the ground, he seized control of the ball and initiated a fast break that led to the Lakers scoring two easy points in transition.
Davis’ quick thinking and exceptional skills were on full display as he took matters into his own hands and eliminated the need for a block altogether. He demonstrated that he is not only a great defender but also an innovative player who can come up with creative solutions on the court. By taking control of the ball, Davis not only prevented the possibility of giving the opponent the ball back but also created a scoring opportunity for his own team.
Throughout his career, Anthony Davis has consistently made incredible defensive plays that leave viewers in awe, wondering how he managed to do it. However, Davis has struggled to maintain this level of performance consistently, especially considering he missed 68 games in the previous two seasons.
Even this season, when he was at his healthiest since 2020, he paced himself and didn’t play to his full potential, which ultimately led to him not receiving a single Defensive Player of the Year vote.
In the first round of the postseason, Jaren Jackson Jr., who won the award for Best Defensive Player, faced off against Anthony Davis, and it was fittingly an epic matchup. However, Davis outshone Jackson Jr. in every aspect of the game. Although counting stats don’t reveal the full story, Davis outperformed Jackson Jr. in almost every category, making it clear that he was the superior player.
Anthony Davis reclaims his defensive dominance
During the postseason, Anthony Davis has been a standout player, leading in blocks, defensive rebounds, and contested shots. Among big men, he ranks second in steals, behind only Draymond Green and Domantas Sabonis. With Davis on the court, the Lakers posted an impressive defensive rating of 100.4, a figure that only the No. 1 ranked Cleveland Cavaliers defense in the regular season came close to matching.
In the series against Memphis, Anthony Davis primarily functioned as a help-defender. However, when matched up against Jaren Jackson Jr. Davis shut him down completely. Jackson shot only 9-of-30 from the floor against Anthony Davis, while Ja Morant also struggled, shooting just 10-of-27. As a team, the Grizzlies shot a dismal 33.3% when Davis was their primary defender, according to NBA.com tracking data. In contrast, the Lakers shot 41-of-101 against Jackson.
Davis’s defensive performance in the series was even more impressive considering the quality of his opponent. Jackson played aggressive yet disciplined defense, and many pre-series Los Angeles Lakers picks revolved around the idea that he would get into foul trouble, as he often has in the past. However, Jackson remained out of foul trouble, and his defense was strong. Despite this, Davis still outperformed him by a significant margin.
In Game 6, Anthony Davis put on a defensive clinic, holding the Grizzlies to a dismal 16-of-50 shooting in the paint. Overall, Memphis shot just 17-of-58 on 2-pointers. This is especially impressive given that Memphis led the NBA in points in the paint during the regular season, averaging 58.4 per game. In the three quarters that Anthony Davis played, the Grizzlies managed to score only 20 points in the paint. The Memphis starters had more turnovers (10) than 2-point field goals (9).
LeBron James praised Davis’s dominant Game 6 performance, saying, “He was AD. He was spectacular. I think we all know, basketball guys know, competition knows, how dominant AD is defensively.” For the Lakers, Davis’s impressive defensive skills have become the norm, but to the NBA, it’s a shock after his prolonged absence due to injuries. Despite playing more minutes than Jackson, Davis didn’t receive any Defensive Player of the Year votes, and he’s unlikely to earn All-Defense honors or be an All-Star this season.
However, any doubts about Anthony Davis abilities have been erased now that he’s playing his best when it matters most. He’s playing like the defensive powerhouse he was when the Lakers won the championship in 2020 and just outperformed the Defensive Player of the Year winner in the first round. While he may not receive regular-season honors, Davis is the best defender in the world when the season is on the line. With his superior performance over Jackson, it’s doubtful anyone else is even close.
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