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Anthony Davis and the LA Lakers suffered a disappointing 113-111 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals. The loss eliminated the Lakers from the playoffs in four games against the top-seeded Nuggets.
AD had this to say in his final presser of the season (via Mike Trudell):
“It hurts right now. It’s tough. Credit to Denver — they’re a great team. Their players played well throughout the series. It hurts, it stings, you gotta carry it into next season and use it as fuel.”
If not for LeBron James’ 31-point first-half explosion, the Lakers may not have even been in the game. Anthony Davis scored just 11 points through the first three quarters, making just 3-12 field goals. He also had 11 rebounds, two blocks and one steal before turning it on in the final period.
Davis poured 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter just as James began to fizzle out. “King James” scored only two points in the said period and missed two potential game-tying shots in the last 30 seconds.
Anthony Davis’ inconsistency is a huge reason why the LA Lakers are going home early. AD has been almost unable to play at an elite level in consecutive games in the playoffs. Davis is averaging 28.8 points on 58.9% shooting, 15.1 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in odd-numbered games.
In even-numbered games, he only put up 16.3 points, hitting just 45.3% of his shots, to go with 13.0 rebounds and 3.3 blocks.
Anthony Davis will have to be fueled by his lack of consistency for next season. LeBron James will be turning 39 and can’t be asked to continue carrying the LA Lakers. Davis will have to step up big time for this team to dream of at least returning to the Conference finals next season.
The Denver Nuggets’ frontline was too much for Anthony Davis and the LA Lakers
Anthony Davis is unquestionably one of the best defenders in NBA history. In the closeout game, he just didn’t have enough to hold off the Denver Nuggets’ frontline of Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon.
Jokic is on a different level this season. He has been putting up numbers not seen since the legendary Wilt Chamberlain was in his prime. The “Joker” had another triple-double, the third in the series against the LA Lakers and eighth overall, which beat Chamberlain’s 56-year-old record.
Compounding Davis’ woes was Gordon’s clutch performance. Denver’s power forward shone with 22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and two blocks, including the crucial one on LeBron James.
On several occasions, Gordon even outplayed Anthony Davis, which is almost unimaginable considering the magnitude of the game.
If Davis needs fire to fuel his next season, he only has to look at Game 4 to motivate him. When the Lakers needed him most, he came up short. AD desperately tried to come up clutch but failed.
LA will have no shortage of motivational material to get them going next season.
