“They should label him as the power forward and label LeBron James as the center” - Robert Horry takes a shot at Anthony Davis’ reluctance to play center, adding the LA Lakers just want AD to play
LA Lakers coach Darvin Ham could make Anthony Davis the starting center despite the big man’s known reluctance to play the position. With AD playing center, the Lakers are +257, albeit in preseason games.
Upon knowing that he is heavily considered to play center, Davis responded that he would do it if that’s what it takes to win.
On “The Crossover” podcast, Robert Horry took a shot at Anthony Davis for his reluctance to be the man in the middle for the Lakers:
“They should label him as the power forward and label LeBron James as the center. There’s no problem now! I think it’s the label that makes him mad. You wanna show your versatility? Matter of fact, we’re gonna label you as the small forward. Does that make you feel better?”
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Last season, when virus protocols and injuries decimated the Lakers’ frontline, LeBron James gladly played center. The four-time MVP flourished on offense but struggled on defense and rebounding. He showed, however, that he does not have any position preference as long as it helps the team win.
Horry also explained why playing center shouldn’t be something Anthony Davis has to think twice about doing:
“What center in the west should he fear? Nobody. Not Jokic. Not the Stifle Tower [Gobert]. There’s nobody in the west that can guard you. … There’s no more position in the NBA. Every team runs the same plays. It doesn’t matter what your position is, just get on the court and play!”
“Big Shot Bob” added that AD prefers to play the four because of the mismatches he can get whenever he is on the floor. If Davis is in the post, he could bully his defenders or get in a better position for offensive rebounds.
However, the said advantage is nullified, according to Horry, because Davis hasn’t been operating inside for the LA Lakers. He has been hoisting jumpers and, on occasion, bangs with the big men in the paint.
Anthony Davis on how he feels about potentially starting at the 5: "I trust Coach’s decision. I mean, I’m pretty sure he heard AD wants to play the 4, so he knows where I stand, but at the end of the day, I want to win, so if that’s me playing the 5, that’s what it’s got to be."
For Horry, the position he plays on the floor should be the least of Anthony Davis’ worries. His first worry should be how often he will be available to help the team after playing only 76 games in two seasons. The same is true for the Lakers. They want him out on the floor.
Darvin Ham will not be hesitant to use Anthony Davis at center despite injury concerns
Anthony Davis' health is the biggest concern for the LA Lakers heading into this season. A healthy AD and LeBron James took the team to the championship in 2020.
Injury concerns continue to cause anxiety among Lakers fans, even early in the preseason. Davis has been dealing with back tightness even before the season begins.
Darvin Ham, however, isn’t worried that playing Davis center will take a more punishing toll on his body.
“I think the way you see the league trending now, even the big, muscular, heavy guys are still playing a perimeter-type game," Ham said.
"Embiid, Jokic, Nurkic, they go down on the block sometimes, but for the most part, they’re out initiating pick-and-rolls and picking-and-popping, going to play side-to-side basketball, playing DHO basketball, being more facilitators from the perimeter from the elbow.
“So it’s not so much about the banging and bruising, some of our best lineups are gonna entail him being at the 5.”