“LeBron James and the Lakers won’t win the championship without a healthy Anthony Davis”: Richard Jefferson says Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers have better chance at the title

Richard Jefferson gives the Nets and the Clippers better chances at the title considering Anthony Davis isn’t a 100% healthy in the Playoffs.

The Lakers’ formula of success last year was to give Anthony Davis and LeBron James the ball when it mattered most. The duo came through on almost every single occasion and led the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship. 

However, the Lakers cannot make as big of a splash in the postseason as last year without the 1B to LeBron James’s 1A. The 1B would be Anthony Davis, who has been diagnosed with a right calf strain and will be out for at least 2-3 weeks. He will be re-evaluated following this timeframe. 

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With the Lakers receiving the shortest offseason in the history of the NBA and the 2020-21 season’s schedule being as jam-packed as it is, injuries were bound to occur. 

Richard Jefferson gives us his picks for the NBA title this season, considering Anthony Davis’s health

Stephen A. Smith came out a few days back to let everybody know that he’s iffy on picking the Lakers to win it all once again this year, following the Anthony Davis injury. Richard Jefferson followed suit and talked about the Lakers’ title chances if Davis isn’t a 100% healthy come Playoff time. 

“Anthony Davis is the key to the entire NBA. He allows Bron to be the MVP. If he’s not a 100% healthy then I don’t know if they repeat and I think you have to start looking at the Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets.” 

Richard Jefferson dropped some bold Lakers takes on today’s @SportsNation:

• Anthony Davis being out will cost LeBron the MVP

• A less-than-100% AD means the Clippers or Nets will likely be this year’s champs pic.twitter.com/EhTBpUhfkW

— Mike Goldfarb (@MikeGoldFool) February 18, 2021

The Lakers do have enough firepower on their team to hold their own against any other squad in the league. With guys like Dennis Schroder, Montrezl Harrell, and Kyle Kuzma, the Lakers have enough to remain competitive in Anthony Davis’s absence. 

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However, the ‘Brow’ is that team’s defensive anchor. Without him, there’s a gaping hole in their defense that cannot be replaced by anybody on that team. Not to mention, there’s quite nearly no one in the NBA who can guard Anthony Davis. The 6’11 All-Star is a legit 3 level scorer and can get to where he wants with ease. 

Without him, teams like the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, and even the Utah Jazz, as ESPN’s Kirk Goldsberry pointed out, have a chance to dethrone LeBron and the Lakers this season.