LeBron has high praise for Anthony Davis after Game 2 against Trail Blazers

LeBron James has had some excellent teammates, but he put Anthony Davis in a special category after Game 2 against the Trail Blazers.

After a disappointing loss in Game 1, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 111-88 in Game 2 on Thursday night. Anthony Davis led the way, with 31 points (13-for-21 from the floor), 11 rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal in 29 minutes of action.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Davis is the first Laker since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1987 to score 30-plus points in less than 30 minutes of action.

LeBron James struggled in Game 2, going 4-for-11 from the floor and finishing with just 10 points. That’s the lowest point total he has had in a playoff win in his career, over 241 career postseason games now.

Davis had 28 points and 11 rebounds in Game 1, but he shot just 8-for-24 from the floor and 12-for-17 from the line in the loss. A post-game pep talk from James may have helped him assert himself in Game 2.

Anthony Davis was a huge factor in the Lakers Game 2 win

“I was really down on myself after Game 1. I didn’t feel like I performed to the level I needed to. And he let me have my moment and kind of get on myself, and then he talked to me and said I was fine.

After Game 2, James placed some incredibly high praise on Davis.

“I’ve had some great teammates in my career,” James said. “AD is one of those unicorns, and he does things that some of my other great teammates are not capable of doing.”

James has played with  (and won titles with) Dwyane Wade and Kyrie Irving, and he quickly mentioned them along with Davis as the three best players he has played with.

Along with his efficient performance on the offensive end, Davis made a big impact defensively in Game 2 beyond what raw personal stats showed. According to Second Spectrum data, Portland went 5-for 22 from the floor when Davis was playing center on Thursday night. One blocked shot was not at all indicative of his impact.

With little in the way of consistent production beyond he and James, Davis has to be at the top of his game for the Lakers to succeed and reach their championship expectations. Game 2’s assertive, efficient and all-around impactful version of him has to be the norm for the rest of the playoffs.