Durability Factor
One of the critical issues for Anthony Davis and the entire team was the injury bug. By playing in 40 games this season, Davis and his teammates were unable to find any consistency and build chemistry.
In the first 19 games of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers went 9-10. Davis averaged a double-double with 24.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. However, he was -3.4 in his plus/minus through those 19 games.
The plus/minus statistic emphasizes the player’s impact on the court as a whole, especially in the things that might not show up among points, rebounds, assists, or other straightforward NBA numbers. It’s winning loose balls, forcing turnovers, and the opportunities that benefit the team offensively.
Compared to his 2019-20 numbers, Davis played in 62 games, both before the pandemic postponed the season and in the NBA bubble. In addition, the former No. 1 overall pick played in every playoff game, totaling at least 17 minutes each game.
Unlike this season, when Anthony Davis averaged 23 points per game, he averaged 26.1 points and 9.3 rebounds with an 84.6 free throw percentage. In the last two seasons, Davis’ free throw percentages have dropped to 73.8% last season and 71.3%.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 2 Trade Packages To Send Lakers’ Anthony Davis To San Antonio Spurs
That could easily be the difference in averaging five more points, leading to a few more victories in the games the Lakers lost by single digits and an opportunity to at least reach the play-in tournament.
