Anthony Davis is the most important player on the Lakers

LeBron James is the greatest player of the last decade or so and is definitely the Lakers’ leader, but Anthony Davis is this team’s most important player and arguably their best player given all that he does for them. Not only is Davis one of the best defensive players in the NBA, but he is a factor rebounding on both ends of the court and is virtually unguardable at times given his height and length. 

Not having Anthony Davis in Game 5 due to a groin strain was huge for the Suns because they really have not had an answer for Davis over the last few games. As a result of him being out, a lot of the weight on both ends of the court fell on the shoulders of LeBron James and Dennis Schroder, which did not work out well for the Lakers. 

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Schroer put up a “goose egg,” 0 points on 0-9 shooting from the floor, and LeBron James did not look like he had that “killer instinct” in him that we usually see him have in the postseason. Maybe his ankle injury is still bothering him or maybe the wear and tear of 18 years in the league is starting to show on James, but nonetheless, it looked like he gave up on his team when they went down by double-digits. 

With or without Anthony Davis, LeBron James cannot give up mid-game like he did in Game 5 because his team will go as far as he is able to take them. Whether it is scoring, facilitating or rebounding, James is the leader of the Lakers and needs to push them all the way in this series. 

As for Davis, he is considered questionable for Game 6 in Los Angeles on Thursday night and with their backs up against the wall, it is expected that he is going to try and give it a go. Groin strains are nothing to mess around with and he definitely is not going to be 100% for this game, but even if he has a minutes restriction, I find it hard to believe that he will be held out again. 

Davis is the most important player on the Lakers and given how well he protected the paint and has kept the Suns from driving down the lane, his presence in Game 6 would surely shift the balance back in favor of the Lakers in this series, especially since Game 6 is on their home court.