Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins is confident that regardless of where the Los Angeles Lakers finish in the Western Conference standings, they will be led by Anthony Davis to the NBA Finals in 2023. Perkins believes that James’ injury was a blessing in disguise for the Lakers as it allowed Davis to realize his capabilities as the focal point of the offense. According to Perkins, the Lakers were able to gel as a team, and GM Rob Pelinka’s roster moves at the trade deadline allowed the players to find their roles in the team.
The Lakers and Davis are currently playing some of their best basketball of the season and are expected to be a tough matchup for any higher-seeded team in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. However, the Lakers must first make it past the play-in tournament to secure their playoff spot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX3mxYsuJm0&t=10s
He said:- “[Lakers] are going to the Finals this year, on the back of Anthony Davis… They have been the best defensive team—the 2nd part of the season in the Western Conference & I like their chances.”
“It was a blessing in disguise for LeBron James to go out. Darvin Ham was put on notice that ‘I need to run my offense through AD. And once I give AD the confidence to tell him to impose your will, we are going to be a better ball club…’ I like their chances versus everybody.”
Despite the uncertainties, Davis and the Lakers are determined to finish the regular season strong and aim for the highest possible seed. With both Davis and James healthy, many experts in the NBA media landscape believe that the Lakers have the potential to make a deep run in the playoffs and reach the NBA Finals in 2023.
Got it done. pic.twitter.com/E2OVQYNCd5
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 8, 2023
Kendrick Perkins is a former NBA player who had a successful 14-year career before transitioning into a popular broadcast analyst. He is known for his big personality and strong player relationships which allow him to provide unique basketball insights.
Perkins was drafted straight out of high school and played for several teams including the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New Orleans Pelicans. He won his first NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008 as the starting center and also led the Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012. Perkins retired from the NBA on April 15th, 2019.
Anthony Davis Takes Backseat as Lakers’ Role Players Shine in Win over Phoenix Suns
Despite a lackluster performance from Anthony Davis on Friday night, the LA Lakers were still able to secure a victory over the Phoenix Suns thanks to the impressive play of their role players. Davis, along with LeBron James, only combined for 30 points on a 10-for-31 shooting night.
While Davis’ lack of scoring may be a concern for some Lakers fans, it was not a huge issue on this particular night as D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reeves, and Malik Beasley all stepped up and scored over 20 points each. However, the Lakers will need Davis to play at his usual All-Star level if they want to make a deep playoff run this season.
Despite his off-night, Davis is still a key piece to the Lakers’ success. He is a dynamic scorer and a dominant force on the defensive end of the court. When he is fully engaged and playing at his best, there are few players in the league that can match his level of production.
Lakers fans will be hoping that this game was just an anomaly for Davis and that he will bounce back with a strong performance in their next game. As the playoffs approach, the Lakers will need their stars to step up, but also rely on their role players to continue to contribute and help carry the load.
