Anthony Davis has been slow to speed things up this season, at least by his standards. Although the 27-year-old superstar averages 21.7 points per game with 51.5% of field shots and 41.2% of 3-point shots, he has had three games with less than 20 points in his first seven games . Last season, he took 13 games to reach three with less than 20 points.
Although Davis tried to be a consistent top scorer again, he found other ways to impact the game, especially as a passer. In six games, Davis recorded 19 assists, three more than he had in six games last season. Going to the Lakers’ victory against the Memphis Grizzles on Sunday night, he averaged 4.0 assists per game, his career record.
Davis had only one assist against the Grizzlies, but Frank Vogel thinks Davis still deserves credit for the way he moved the ball on Sunday and for how he has developed as a passer since last season, especially outside of double teams.
“His passing, for me, in double teams, is day and night from where he was last year,” said Vogel of Davis on Monday. “I think he really grew up at the end of last season in the bubble and in the playoffs, where games mattered most. I think he really grew up this year in relation to that.
“Last night, I thought he had a great night out, even though he only had one audience, and we highlighted that in today’s film session. He made a series of extra passes that we didn’t get the result of a shot made, or a shot made with a foul or an extra pass after that, but I thought he made a great passing game last night, although he didn’t be awarded on the statistics sheet. He’s definitely growing in that area. “
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Joe Murphy / NBAE photo via Getty Images
It is unlikely that we will see Vogel execute his attack through Davis with more advanced game creators like Dennis Schröder, Marc Gasol and, of course, LeBron James at his disposal, but Davis being a better and more willing passer will make the Lakers better overall. , and that’s what’s motivating Davis to improve in that area.
“I’m just trying to add more to my game,” said Davis on Sunday. “I know that a lot of teams try to double just to make me look different when I score, so the best way to beat a double team is to find the guy open and our guys doing kicks. I just have to do my job and draw twice as much. After doing this, find the right guy, if he is in front of me, (in the) corner of the weak side, the big one in the middle; whatever it is, I have to do the reading. This is how you make your team better.
“I have not marked how you are used to it, but I have made the right plays and found my teammates, who have been doing a great job in hitting and continually making plays for others.”
Fortunately for him, he has some competent teachers around him, including one of the best big players the NBA has ever seen in Gasol. Gasol leads all active centers in assists with 2,905. On Sunday, against the Grizzlies, he made four assists.
“It’s nice to have Marc here because I have learned a lot from Marc about how to get big over the top, the elbow, over the pole – just trying to figure out ways to steal it from him, and also Bron. He has been talking to me about it too for the past two years. I’m just trying to improve and continually add to my game. “
Davis is already one of the most complete players in the NBA. If he can improve as an ace with the help of his teammates, it will be difficult to put a roof on what the Lakers can accomplish while he is in Los Angeles.
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