Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Anthony Davis gets the best of his old team again

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Saturday, 04 January 2020 00:34

LOS ANGELES -- Two words came to mind for Dwight Howard when he was asked to compare Anthony Davis' first game against his former team five weeks ago to Davis' performance Friday in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-113 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

"No stress," Howard said.

It's a phrase Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd coined in a film session earlier in the season, using clips to illustrate how making the simple play will often lead to spectacular results.

"If we play with no stress, move the ball, share it, get open shots, [then] you don't have to stress and feel like, 'I got to make this shot,' because you know it's going to come [around] and you're going to get another one," Howard said. "So no stress is good for everybody."

It was great for Davis, as he scored 46 points to go with 13 rebounds and 3 blocks as he helped L.A. race to a 24-point lead in what became a relatively easy win. The Lakers improved their Western Conference-best record to 28-7.

When Davis scored 41 points in late November in the Lakers' 114-110 win in New Orleans in his return game, he needed 30 shots to get there, and the Lakers had to overcome a 16-point second-half deficit. Friday's 46 -- Davis' fourth 40-plus-point effort of the season -- required only 21 shots, and the Lakers never trailed after the first quarter.

"Even though we won the game [in New Orleans], I didn't like playing that way where they were just forcing the ball," Davis said. "I knew the situation, obviously, and my teammates wanted me to play well against my former team the first time."

Davis did play well -- setting a record for points scored by a player facing his former team for the first time -- but on Friday he played even better. It was the kind of night that Kobe Bryant used to refer to as a "clean game" -- when he would take what the night presented, rather than mucking things up by going against the grain.

"It was an emotional game for me [in November]. I just wanted to play as good as possible," Davis said. "Tonight, I didn't have that many emotions because I got that out of the way the first game. It was just another game. We just come out and play and did whatever I can to get the win."

What he did was continue to show how he's expanding on what he's capable of since he joined this collection of talent in L.A.

"He's the recipient of our flow on offense because he's just as fast as anybody on the floor, more dynamic than anybody that's on the floor, does it better playing in the interior, playing in the exterior," LeBron James said. "He can do so many things."

Consider Davis' mixed bag against the Pelicans -- 13-of-13 from the free throw line, 3-of-5 from 3, 2-of-2 in throwing down momentum-changing lobs -- to know just how much he's bringing at this stage of the season.

And one of those lobs from Danny Green had no business being converted.

"I thought it was a solid pass, but when I threw and the way he caught it, I was like, 'Damn, I don't know if he's going to catch this.' But he catches everything. He makes everything," Green said. "It's a lot of fun to watch, it's a lot of fun to be a part of, and it makes life really easy."

Indeed, it's easy going for the Lakers these days. And Davis looks completely at ease in his new home.

"Too blessed to be stressed, man," Howard said.

Read 385 times

Soccer

Man City face 'tough' season after late collapse

Man City face 'tough' season after late collapse

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPep Guardiola said Manchester City are in for a "tough" season afte...

Man City need more than Haaland as season sits on knife's edge

Man City need more than Haaland as season sits on knife's edge

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMANCHESTER, England -- For 75 minutes on Tuesday night, Manchester...

10-man PSG drop to 26th in narrow loss to Bayern

10-man PSG drop to 26th in narrow loss to Bayern

Bayern Munich battled past 10-man Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the Champions League thanks to Kim Min-...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Giannis out vs. Heat due to pregame knee issue

Giannis out vs. Heat due to pregame knee issue

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMIAMI -- Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for Tues...

Sources: Kings closing in on deal for Crowder

Sources: Kings closing in on deal for Crowder

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFree-agent forward Jae Crowder is close to a deal with the Sacramen...

Baseball

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- A full postseason share for the World Series champion L...

Starter or reliever? Stay with the Phillies or go elsewhere? All-Star Jeff Hoffman opens up on free agency

Starter or reliever? Stay with the Phillies or go elsewhere? All-Star Jeff Hoffman opens up on free agency

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJeff Hoffman is one of the most sought-after relievers in this offs...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated