Fansided

3 ways the Los Angeles Lakers can survive — and maybe thrive — without Anthony Davis

By Michael Shearer

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 11: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on December 11, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 11: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on December 11, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /
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LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 18: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket defended by Kyle Kuzma #33 of the Washington Wizards in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /

2. Resist the urge to play LeBron at center

AD has played a monster number of minutes at center to great effect this season, and his absence leaves a vacuum at the five-spot. Without any pedigreed centers on the roster (although Thomas Bryant has performed surprisingly well in limited run so far), one might assume that LeBron would be the natural choice to fill some of Davis’ minutes.

But LeBron has barely played center at all this year, and the team has done poorly when he has manned the middle.

The team has played 306 James-at-center possessions this season and has a net rating of -4.7 points per 100 possessions. Defense is the big culprit, as the team sports a 115.8 defensive rating, which would be tied with Charlotte for fifth-worst in the league. If that’s not a big enough sample for you, the Lakers played more than 2,000 such possessions last season and had a slightly negative net rating then, too.

LeBron is still a capable defender, and he’ll garner some highlight blocks, but he’s not a traditional rim protector. Last season, James-centered lineups were in the tenth percentile for allowing shots at the rim and in the ninth percentile for opposing three-point percentage. The short version: LeBron-at-center lineups allow a ton of layups and dunks, so the team has to compensate by sending help into the paint, which then opens up opposing shooters to spray from outside.

This season, the team has been sending even more help into the paint, so they’ve done a good job preventing last year’s layup lines. But conversely, opposing teams are shooting an absurd 44% from three against these lineups. Opponents see LeBron at center and turn into a team full of prime Steph Curries.

That number is unsustainable, of course, but it does speak to the underlying problem: LeBron in the paint isn’t scaring anyone defensively.

You might hope that he could make it up on offense, but alas: squads with James in the middle can’t stop turning the ball over, hamstringing an offense that has been effective both getting to the rim and generating clean looks from three. With James at center, the Lakers have an effective field goal percentage of 57.2%, a very good mark similar to last year’s numbers. But they don’t generate any turnovers or rebound particularly well, and turning it over nearly 17% of the time themselves ensures they are constantly losing the possession game.

If there’s any silver lining here, it’s that there’s undoubtedly offensive potential with these groups, but they’ll have to figure out a way to stop giving up open threes and turning it over to be viable. I’m not convinced the Lakers have the goods to make that work.

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