Anthony Davis will indeed evolve more to the position of pivot | NBA

With the presence of Marc Gasol, Montrezl Harrell and Andre Drummond, Anthony Davis did not have the opportunity to spend much time at the pivot position last season. This tactical configuration was however the strength of the Lakers the year of their title, in 2020, with an “AD” particularly comfortable and domineering when he was alone in the racket, with several exteriors at his side, and that the tandem JaVale McGee – Dwight Howard was resting.

But with the arrival of Russell Westbrook, whose outside shoot is a big weak point, Los Angeles cannot afford to play with a real pivot alongside Anthony Davis, under penalty of having no spacing. .

Californian leaders have therefore sought, this summer, to unclog their domestic sector, with only two core business now: Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan. Obviously, this indicates a very clear desire on the part of the “Purple & Gold”: to allow Anthony Davis to find position 5 more often. This is sure to delight James Worthy.

” I expect to play pivot“, Explained the person during Media Day. ” I don’t know if this will really be the case, but Frank [Vogel] and I have discussed this on several occasions and that is what is planned for the moment. Nothing is set in stone, but we want to see how it turns out and I’m comfortable with that eventuality. ”

The lethal weapon of the Lakers’ small ball

Initially unwilling to play a pivotal role when he arrived at the Lakers in 2019, Anthony Davis therefore seems to have resigned himself to it, especially since he is extremely effective in this position. Showing, therefore, a magnificent “net rating” of +15.8 (an estimate of the difference in points scored and conceded [+/-] by a player, or a franchise, out of 100 possessions), when he played as a pivot during the 2020 playoffs (60% of his playing time, almost 37 minutes on average).

On the other hand, what should change compared to the 2019/20 financial year is that the eight-time All-Star should start meetings in this role, he who was exclusively used to starting at position 4 at that time, sliding to station 5 over the minutes, for the sake of the “small ball”.

” There will obviously be times when Dwight [Howard] and DeAndre [Jordan] will start at post 5 but most of the time I think our intention will be to play with me as a pivot “Continued” AD.

As for Frank Vogel, who will come back whatever happens the final decision, he must above all strive to find the right balance with Anthony Davis, in particular so as not to exhaust him in the face of bigger, more physical sizes. .

” I think that, the first year, the balance was close to 50/50, since he was playing at station 4 alongside another interior, then slipping at station 5 “, The Los Angeles coach rightly recalled. ” Last season he played mostly as a strong-winger, with Marc [Gasol], [Andre] Drummond and [Montrezl Harrell] who were getting a lot of minutes as a pivot. And I think we’re going to get back to that first-year balance, even though he’ll play both 4 and 5. ”

Essential physical strengthening

And to be able to keep pace throughout the duration of a campaign as a pivot, Anthony Davis obviously prepared physically all summer. After missing 36 of the 72 Lakers games in the regular season, before relapsing in the first round of the playoffs, during Game 4 against the Suns, the former Pelicans player has mainly sought to strengthen this much too fragile body, since the the start of his career.

” It bothered me to miss so many matches “Regretted the 2020 champion, apparently very sharp. ” I have already missed meetings in my career, but my Achilles tendon injury caused me to miss thirty and I could not play at my best level in the playoffs, against Phoenix. I couldn’t even play Game 5, and it really bothered me. So I made an effort to take care of my body, to bring it back to its power level of my first year here. This is what I have focused on the most this summer. ”

In addition to having to reassure on the physical level, Anthony Davis will also be expected at the leadership level. Now 28 years old, it is indeed high time for the 1st choice of the 2012 Draft to take over from LeBron James who, at almost 37 years old, can no longer do as much as in the past.

” I think I have the ability “The Brow” admitted, concerning the fact of being more of a leader. ” We obviously have a lot of talent, a lot of great leaders, but I know my teammates said to me ‘This is your team, we are following in your footsteps’, like during my first year here. And I think it’s a good thing to have brought back players who will make this task easier, taking the pressure off the shoulders of just one player, because there will be 4, 5 or 6 who can do it. what it takes to win matches. Even if, in the end, we will all have to sacrifice ourselves to be able to achieve our common goal: to win the title. ”