"Full-blown Wilt Davis!" - Lakers coach Darvin Ham has all the love for Anthony Davis after massive W against Grizzlies
Anthony Davis willed the LA Lakers to a 112-103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. Davis continued his monster run, bagging 30 points, 22 rebounds, and two blocks, leading LA to another win without the injured LeBron James.
The Lakers moved up to ninth in the Western Conference with a 32-24 record. They entered the game tied for the ninth spot, but the Utah Jazz' 120-116 loss against the Mavericks leaves the Lakers as the sole owners of that particular seeding.
Anthony Davis has kept LA in the game since the beginning. He tallied 13 points and nine rebounds in the first quarter alone. Lakers head coach Darvin Ham couldn't help but reward his star center with a new nickname. Here's what he told Lakers' beat reporter Mike Trudell (via Clutch Points' Michael Corvo):
"Full-blown Wilt Davis. He's playing like a monster."
More Ham on AD: "Full-blown Wilt Davis. He's playing like a monster." twitter.com/michaelcorvoNB…
Anthony Davis has put up Wilt Chamberlain-like numbers, especially when LeBron James has been on the sidelines. Over his last five games, Davis has bagged 33.0 points, 13.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks, shooting on 56/33/76 splits. James hasn't played in the last four games. AD has impacted both ends of the floor, making his performances more spectacular.
Anthony Davis and LA Lakers' resurgence puts the Western Conference on notice
The LA Lakers entered the year as the underdogs. They struggled for most of the season and were counted out by many. Some critics even refused to give the Lakers a chance to make it to the play-in tournament following their 2-10 start to the season.
However, Rob Pelinka flipped the roster around for good at the trade deadline, addressing the team's crucial needs like shooting, size, and defensive depth.The Lakers are 7-3 since the deadline. James played only thrice during that stretch, while D'Angelo Russell played four times.
LA is now only two games behind the fifth and sixth seeds and a game behind the seventh and eighth seeds while owning the ninth seed alone with a 32-34 record. They are only one win away from matching their win tally from last season (33-49).
Anthony Davis, playing the best basketball of his career, is only expected to push the Lakers to new heights. Opposing teams haven't had an answer to his exploits on either end, giving the Lakers a dynamic edge even in the absence of players like LeBron James and D'Angelo Russell.
Despite being shorthanded, the LA Lakers storming back into contention on the back of Davis is a concern for teams in the Western Conference. That gives James extended time to recover from a foot tendon injury. If the four-time MVP comes back close to 100%, the playoff-picture in the West could favor the Lakers to at least make the conference finals.