Lakers News: Anthony Davis Calls Out Teammates For This Issue In Recent Play

NBA roundup: Anthony Davis helps Lakers edge Raptors | Reuters

On the heels of their 11th loss in their last 16 games Thursday night, a 127-109 blowout to the similarly-struggling Phoenix Suns, your Los Angeles Lakers seem wholly out of sorts.

All-Star center Anthony Davis, however, has been playing out of his mind lately. The 6’10” Kentucky product only notched 13 points before the game got so out of hand he was sat for good.

Across 37 healthy games (he’s just missed two so far, in an uncharactertiscally healthy season), he’s averaging 25.3 points on .562/.341/.810 shooting splits, 12 rebounds, 3.3 dimes, 2.5 blocks, and 1.2 steals a night.

Anthony Davis - Los Angeles Lakers Power Forward - ESPN

Per Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, Davis kvetched after the Suns contest about LA’s turnstile perimeter defense in containing jump shooters.

“We’re allowing everybody, no matter what their numbers are, shoot well against us,” Anthony Davis said. “If a guy is shooting 10 percent, he’s going to shoot 40 [percent] on us. … We got to play everybody like they’re Steph when they play us. Everybody has shot the ball well against us.”

Davis, not lacking for confidence himself, addressed his own indefatigable stat-stuffing in the wake of his wing teammates’ struggles.

“I’ve been doing this,” Davis informed Haynes. “Y’all just forgot who I am.”

Anthony Davis - Los Angeles Lakers Power Forward - ESPN

LA may be a trade (or two) away from truly correcting these defensive vulnerabilities. But the club could get a bit of a schedule break tomorrow, when it will face off against the Western Conference’s other 19-20 squad in the 11th-seeded Utah Jazz (the Lakers are currently the tenth seed).