EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — So much is made of Anthony Davis’s offense.
The flurry of dunks, the mid-range game — and he’s hitting three-pointers? Impressive.
What You Need To Know
- The Lakers face Memphis again Tuesday in a rapid rematch of their 105-94 victory Sunday
- Anthony Davis' impressive offense sometimes overshadows his defensive ability
- Davis now has 42 career games with at least three blocks and steals, putting him ninth all-time in the category
It sometimes overshadows what Davis does defensively for the Lakers. Case in point: He had three steals and three blocked shots Sunday against Memphis to move into an elite historic group.
Davis now has 42 career games with at least three blocks and steals, putting him ninth all-time in the category. He moved past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (41 games) and is within reach this season of Kevin Garnett (44), Josh Smith (46), and maybe even Marcus Camby (48).
Davis might not ever catch Hakeem Olajuwon (204) or David Robinson (125) at the top of the list, but there’s no denying his defensive value from a historic perspective.
Of course, stats don’t tell the whole story for a player’s defensive value. If he’s not blocking a shot, Davis often forces the shooter to adjust on the fly and misfire. Or he disrupts passing lanes with his 7-foot-6 wingspan.
At the very least, it’s worth asking how Davis received only 14% of the vote for Defensive Player of the Year last season. Giannis Antetokounmpo won in a landslide with 75% of the vote from 100 media members.
Maybe that gap narrows this season, or Davis achieves a long-term goal by winning his first DPOY award. He has finished second, third, and fourth over the years in the voting — but never first.
Davis and the Lakers play Memphis again Tuesday in a rapid rematch of their 105-94 victory Sunday.
Mike Bresnahan is the Lakers analyst for Spectrum SportsNet.