LOS ANGELES — Anthony Davis has been the backbone of the Lakers’ season all season long, especially on the interior.
But recently, the Lakers have provided the perimeter help needed to take advantage of Davis’ All-Defensive caliber season.
Saturday’s 116-97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers was the latest example.
“The things we’ve been talking about, being better on the ball, guys just not dependent on AD to clean up everything and allowing themselves to be blown by,” coach Darvin Ham said postgame. “Just being great on the ball. We had some great performances defensively from several guys.”
Davis’ 13 rebounds (nine defensive) six blocks and three steals, to go with his 22 points and four assists, led the Lakers defensively.
But the perimeter defense – especially from D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Spencer Dinwiddie – made Davis’ job easier.
Instead of having to cover for his teammates, they’re enhancing what Davis does on the inside by cutting off driving lanes or staying attached to their defensive assignments.
“It keeps me around the rim on the bigs,” Davis said. “Where now, our guards aren’t trying to box out bigs, where the other team’s bigs have an advantage. So, when our guards are guarding how they are on the perimeter – keeping the ball in front, making guys take tough 2s or tough shots, it’s easy for me to stay connected and I don’t have to help as much.
“So now, myself, Rui [Hachimura], [LeBron James], we can go get the rebound and get out and run. So, the time that’s tough is when you get beat and now I have to step up and they’re throwing the lob or they’re dumping it off and we’re not reacting fast enough. Or we’re just too small because our guards are small. So, anytime we’re able to guard how we’ve been guarding, then it helps our defense.”
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The Lakers have benefited from the improved perimeter defense, having a 107.1 defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) in their last 10 games, which ranks fifth in the league.
The return of Gabe Vincent has also helped the Lakers’ perimeter defense.
“He was at the top of the list of guys being great on the ball,” Ham said. “Gabe, just his quiet toughness, his quiet leadership. The pedigree he brings. Everyone saw what he was able to do with Miami last year. The impact he had on that club and how far they went, all the way to the Finals. We expect the same performance and even more out of him.
“He’s a guy that’s not worried about how many shots he gets or how many touches. He wants to make his mark felt on the defensive end. I felt like he did that.”
RUSSELL’S RECORD
With his six 3-pointers, Russell, who’s already made the most 3s in a single season in franchise history, further distanced himself from the pack.
Russell is at 218 3s on the season, 35 more than the 183 Nick Van Exel made during the 1994-95 season that set the Lakers’ record.
He’s 16 3s away from tying his single-season record of 234, which he set with the Brooklyn Nets in 2018-19.