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The Los Angeles Lakers put up a valiant effort against the Memphis Grizzlies but fell short in the fourth quarter. Now, they'll face the mighty Anthony Davis and his New Orleans Pelicans in the second game of their road back-to-back, which is going to be one interesting experience.
We know about the Lakers at this point, and not much has changed since the loss last night. Instead, lets talk a little about Anthony Davis. Davis isn't having a "breakout" season so much as he's building on the great year he had with New Orleans in '13-14. He was showing why he's bound to be the next superstar player in the NBA already, but this year? He's taking it to another level, putting up averages that have never been seen in NBA history.
Averaging 24.8 points, 13 rebounds, 4.2 blocks and 2.5 steals per game, while shooting 51.8 percent from the field is a modern marvel, and that's what Davis is doing. No one has ever finished with that kind of line, and it's fair to think those numbers dip a bit as the 82-game season rolls along. Still, what he's doing right now is out of this world, and why he's clearly already one of the most valuable players in the NBA.
And that's the guy who is going to be flying up and down the court against the Lakers today, who are running an undersized frontcourt that features Carlos Boozer. There will be blood.
The Pelicans have accrued a strange stable of talent, with Omer Asik partnering with Davis in the frontcourt, and Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday and Eric Gordon filling out the perimeter. Depth, though, is a problem. Jimmer Fredette and Austin Rivers aren't the kind of reserves a team trying to make a playoff push can rely on, though Ryan Anderson can make an impact if he remains healthy. Then there's John "Slammin'" Salmons.
Either way, New Orleans has plenty of talent around Davis. Whether it fits or not is the bigger problem, but for the Lakers' cause Wednesday night, it might be a long one as the NBA's best two-way big man gets to work. Enjoy the game.