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LA Lakers superstar Anthony Davis was kept out of the lineup for a second consecutive game, this time against the OKC Thunder on Wednesday. With Davis missing yet another crucial fixture this season, fans were merciless in trolling the Lakers big man.
Anthony Davis has developed a bad reputation for being an unavailable superstar. Although the big man has displayed transcendental talent when he is on the floor, he is virtually a no-show in most cases.
At the start of the season, Davis was battling enough criticism with regards to his availability. Given that he had played just over 70 games over two seasons, he was in no position to complain.
However, the Lakers superstar promised the fans that he intends to play all 82 games this season. Obviously, this didn't come to pass.
As Davis continued to battle injuries and absences throughout the season, fans grew frustrated with his absenteeism. This was only exacerbated by the fact that the Lakers were fighting for a place in the play-in tournament.
Fast forward to the post-All-Star weekend scenario. The Lakers suddenly look like they have a chance to make the play-in tournament. However, after a loss against the Memphis Grizzlies, they opted to sit out Anthony Davis for the next game.
The Lakers' decision to bench Davis while LeBron James and D'Angelo Russell were out of action was a rather shocking decision for fans to digest. As several fans shared their reactions on Twitter, we took a look at some of the best ones:
While the justification could be to preserve him for the upcoming five-game homestand, fans were in awe of the decision.
Davis recently received some criticism from Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal as well. With each game he misses, the spotlight gets a little brighter on him. But with the Lakers coming out on top against the Thunder, the big man gained some respite.
The LA Lakers win it without Anthony Davis
The LA Lakers managed to pull off a tremendous win against the OKC Thunder on Wednesday night. While every win is crucial at this juncture, the Purple and Gold were particularly impressive.
With LeBron James and D'Angelo Russell out, the Lakers were expected to rely on Anthony Davis. However, with Davis being a late exclusion, the team had their backs against the wall.
Given the situation, the Purple and Gold displayed grit and poise as they managed to claw their way to a win against OKC, who have typically had the Lakers' number.
Dennis Schroder, Troy Brown Jr. and Austin Reaves were vital to the scoring effort. As Schroder led the way with 26 points, Brown Jr. and Reaves followed up with 19 points each.
New arrivals Mo Bamba, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt also had noteworthy contributions.
The Lakers' defensive integrity in Davis' absence is something to take note of. With newfound depth, the Purple and Gold look like a far more complete unit.
