Los Angeles Lakers were given a 0.3% chance of qualifying for the NBA Playoffs after their horrific 2-10 start for the NBA Season. But the Lebron James-led squad defied the odds to be eligible for playoffs and entered the Western Conference Finals against Denver Nuggets. GM Rob Pelinka made some moves at the trade deadline, which caused a demotivated Lakers squad to unite and rise from the dead. In a conversation about the Lakers and their upcoming season, Charles Barkley presented a case for Anthony Davis. He believes that Davis needs to be the Lakers team’s No.1 option, not Lebron James. James will turn 39, and Davis needs a caliber season for the Lakers to leave an impact, or else they will not go anywhere in the next season.
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In the conversation, Barkley also believed that the 2023 Playoffs series weighed on James, and it was the trash-talking from Brooks that got him through the Memphis – LA matchup. It motivated him to carry the team to the next round with 22.2 points per game at 48.6% shooting to a 4-2 win for the series.
It’s MVP or Nothing for Anthony Davis!
In conversation with Bill Simmons, Chuckster stated that in the upcoming season, it’s all going to come on Anthony Davis to carry the franchise on his shoulders,
“Sometimes, when sports and the games are close, you are like, man, we are close, but the Lakers aren’t. Now, it will be interesting about all the stuff they did; as I said last season, it will all come down to Anthony Davis. If Anthony Davis, as much as I love Lebron, I said last season and two seasons before. The Lakers are not going anywhere if Anthony Davis is not an MVP candidate. The Lakers were lucky to have a great draw in the playoffs, but AD does not have a MVP calibre season; the Lakers are going nowhere.”
During the Lakers Bubble Championship season in 2020, Anthony Davis looked like he had something to prove on the court. He seemed to want to chip into the conversation about being the best in the league. AD averaged 26.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 28 games he played in the Bubble and carried the team to their 1st Championship post the Kobe-Gasol era.
But post the Bubble season, Anthony Davis was plagued by injuries, which made him lose an All-Star spot last year, and the Lakers failed to qualify for the Playoffs. Now, the Lakers need Anthony Davis to have a season similar to Nikola Jokic or Giannis Antetokoumpo’s to lead the Lakers deep into the season and the Playoffs. Lebron, who turns 39, does make things difficult for the Lakers as “Father Time” can catch up for LBJ sooner.
As we enter a new season, the Lakers will try to emulate the last season, but in a much more stress-free way after having a successful off-season of trades where they got Jaxson Hayes, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, Gabe Vincent to go with already existing squad. However, the defending champions, Denver Nuggets, shall look to maintain dominance in the Western Conference in the upcoming season, along with the Phoenix Suns.
They made a blockbuster move of landing Bradley Beal, forming a dominant force alongside KD–Booker-Ayton. Along with these teams, the Memphis Grizzlies, OKC, and the Pelicans are at full strength this season. Paving through such a dominance in the Western Conference will be a challenge, and Chuck feels AD needs to be that driving force for the Lakers. But injuries are a major roadblock.
Paperlike Davis!
Anthony Davis and his injuries are so frequent, which has been the talk of the media for almost two years now, and who better than Shaq and Chuck laughing at his physical conditioning?
In a game against the Warriors, Anthony Davis was seen to be taken in a wheelchair. While discussing this, Shaq and Chuck could not contain their laughter. We could hear the crumpling of paper, and it was Shaq doing the same. Many online assumed it was Shaq’s way of saying AD is made of paper.
Towards the end of the video, Kenny tries to imitate riding a wheelchair, which is downright hilarious., but this shows the crew on NBA on TNT is undoubtedly not pleased with Anthony Davis’s handling of his own body and the physical conditioning he has been onto post-2020 Bubble.
