When someone evaluates how Anthony Davis played in the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, the first instinct may be to say he was inconsistent.
He scored over 23 points just twice in six games, and he shot over 50 percent just three times.
In Game 2 and Game 4, Davis scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, while shooting under 31 percent in both contests, and his series average of 20.8 points per game was well under par for him.
But looking at his offensive production or lack thereof is unfair, as he was dominant overall.
What makes Davis is unique player isn’t just his immense offensive abilities, but also his rebounding prowess, his outstanding ability to protect the rim and his skills as a positional defender who can guard multiple positions.
Throughout the series, he was a one-man shot-blocking army who averaged 4.3 rejections a game, as well as 13.7 boards per contest, and he altered countless more shots in addition to the ones he officially blocked.
The Lakers may have failed at times to prevent Ja Morant from getting into the paint, but Davis made it difficult for him to convert shots at the rim. Thanks to Davis’ defense, Morant shot a terrible 3-of-16 in Game 6.
On one play, the Lakers’ superstar big man came from behind on a Morant drive, blocked the guard’s shot attempt and snatched the ball away from him, then led a fast break which resulted in a layup for LeBron James.
Then later in the game, Davis threw down an alley-oop dunk in the face of Grizzlies center Jaren Jackson Jr., who was recently named the Defensive Player of the Year, as if to send a loud and bold message.
Simply put, Davis has turned it on in the playoffs, and he should be putting to rest all the accusations that he is supposedly soft and lazy, as many love to claim.
This is the version of Davis that can lead the Lakers to an NBA championship, either this season or next.
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Story originally appeared on LeBron Wire