As the Golden State Warriors await to welcome their second-round opponents, all eyes would be on Stephen Curry and LeBron James, as they face each other for the 5th time in the post-season and the first time outside of the Finals. But Lakers’ big Anthony Davis is the key on whom the outcome of the series relies and his inconsistency is untrustworthy for Charles Barkley.
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Although Davis had a monstrous series against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, Chuckster is not sure if the Purple and Gold team should rely on him for every game in the series against the defending Champions.
Charles Barkley questions Anthony Davis’ consistency yet again
In the latest sitting of Inside the NBA, after discussing the outcome of the Sixers-Celtics and Suns-Nuggets games, the team talked about Tuesday night games. And while talking about the Lakers-Warriors, Chuck gave his two cents on The Brow and his reliability.
“My faith in Anthony Davis is … I can’t trust that dude. I think he has a huge advantage, I don’t think [the Warriors] have anybody that can guard him, but he’s so inconsistent… can [the Lakers] get 4 great games out of AD?” Barkley said after Shaquille O’Neal started that conversation on Inside the NBA.
This is not the first time Barkley has questioned the 8x All-Star’s consistency. He did it midway through the series against the Grizzlies too. And if you look at how many points Davis scored in those, you’ll agree with the Round Mound of Rebounds too.
Can the Lakers rely on AD?
No doubt Davis wrecked the board throughout the Round 1 series. Be it home or away games, AD managed to be the big guy the Lakers needed to defend their post against Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant.
He had 27 spikes alone in the series, which was 8 more than the entire Grizzlies team’s blocks. The man also gathered 13.7 boards on average.
Anthony Davis defense this series:
– Game 1 – 7 blocks & 3 steals
– Game 2 – 5 blocks
– Game 3 – 3 blocks & 2 steals
– Game 4 – 4 blocks & 2 steals
– Game 5 – 2 blocks & 1 steal
– Game 6 – 5 blocks🔒🔒🔒🔒 pic.twitter.com/Aynt54AsDp
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 29, 2023
However, he could just manage about 20 points per game. But keeping in mind he was playing against the 2023 DPOY and 3 more players in the Lakers’ squad other than him and James exploded for game highs, it did not matter much.
5 different leading scorers in 6 games.
Game 1 – Rui Hachimura (29)
Game 2 – LeBron James (28)
Game 3 – Anthony Davis (31)
Game 4 – Austin Reaves (23)
Game 5 – Anthony Davis (31)
Game 6 – D’Angelo Russell (31)Depth. pic.twitter.com/EhKJY8emEP
— Los Angeles Lakers ❼ (@CookedByLakers) April 30, 2023
However, against the Dubs, he has to bring his A-game on both ends of the floor, and that too on a nightly basis.
