Thomas Bryant has just shown why the Lakers brought him back to LA. Signed in the off-season as a backup center to Anthony Davis, Thomas has been putting in spirited performances whenever he plays.
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He’s not seen many minutes since AD has been on an offensive tear, but when called upon, Bryant has been electric. Even against the Denver Nuggets tonight, Bryant was ready to tackle the best big man in the league without hesitation. AD’s opposite number in the game, Nikola Jokic, has also been putting up unreal numbers from the center position, but TB was a proper matchup.
Taking on the two-time MVP, Bryant managed to hold him to 25 points with a +/- of -14. Not many players can make the Nuggets play worse when Jokic is on the court, but Bryant held his own.
Also Read: 37-year-old LeBron James Surpasses Michael Jordan in “Rare Scoring Feat” vs Nuggets
Coach Darvin Ham recognized his efforts, and in a locker room video posted by the Lakers themselves, he was seen giving the match ball to TB. Pure class by both of them.
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The Denver Nuggets had the plan to stop Anthony Davis and LeBron James – they forgot about one man
The Lakers’ big three have been the talk of the town; they’ve made everyone sit up and watch them. Fluid between their handovers, Russ, Bron, and AD have made sure the offense keeps ticking. Watching them play, almost every team has the plan to slow them down.
Teams are also starting to prepare for role players like Austin Reaves and Lonnie Walker, but what about Thomas Bryant? Since his return, he’s played 14.5 minutes a game, started only 2, and scores about 8.5 points a game. Nothing great, right?
Wrong, because in the games he’s played 20 minutes or more, Bryant has not scored less than 15. And he has had at least five rebounds a game as well. Darwin Ham appears to be figuring out how to play him; games like tonight show his effectiveness in guarding the best centers in the low block.
If this trend continues, AD will be able to move into his preferred role at 4. Bryant will start at 5. That would be electric—AD can play his favorite role, just like he did when he played with DeMarcus Cousins.
The Lakers have found their center – Thomas Bryant has shown he can hang with the best
The Lakers just managed to close a game against a highly-seeded team—no, it is not a dream. After losing OT games against the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Boston Celtics, analysts and TV presenters alike started to circle back to their pre-season comments.
“No closer was available” seemed to be the theme of the discussion every time the Lakers played. And to be honest, they were right. This team is still finding its feet and hasn’t ironed out all the details.
Individual brilliance by Anthony Davis and LeBron James had won them a couple of their games, but not as a whole. And then Russell Westbrook began showing signs of a resurgence, unbeknownst to anyone, and things looked bright again. Anthony Davis returned to form—even better.
Austin Reaves and Lonnie Walker showed why the Purple and Gold front office believed in them—a few more smiles And then there was one silent hero amongst all of them, carrying a legend’s name but flying under the radar. Thomas Bryant, a player originally drafted by the Lakers, has come home with an arsenal.
In the Eastern Conference with the Washington Wizards, minutes were bestowed upon a sophomore, and he gave them back points. He appears to be putting his four seasons of experience to good use upon his return home.
Kobe Bryant must be proud to see his namesake giving the Lakers important minutes whenever called upon.
