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“That’s When You Make the Statement”: Following LeBron James’ Major Anthony Davis Claim, NBA Veteran Applauds Lakers’ Big Win

Published 04/30/2023, 9:30 AM EDT

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After concluding the intense matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Los Angeles Lakers recently progressed to the second round of the playoff series. LeBron James‘ Lakers defeated Ja Morant’s Grizzlies with a 4-2 tally during Game 6 held on Friday night. Following their victory, King James gave his take on teammate Anthony Davis‘ performance. However, he was not the only one who was thoroughly impressed by the certain tactics that the Lakers displayed on the court.

LeBron James’ Lakers did not really have the best start to the 2023 season. LA spent the first half of the season among the bottom five teams in the Western Conference. However, fans witnessed a significant change in the Lakers’ on-court performances after the roster was rebuilt in February.

LeBron James expresses his thoughts on AD

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It seems like the Los Angeles Lakers had entered their home court with no intentions of letting the Memphis Grizzlies matchup progress to Game 7. Despite being the No, 2 seed, Ja Morant and co. had a tough time putting up with the No. 7 seeded Lakers. The Grizzlies trailed behind LA with a 17-point deficit and eventually lost to them by 125-85.

USA Today via Reuters

The Lakers’ defensive tactics were commendable, especially that of AD’s. Davis finished the game with 16 points and 14 rebounds. According to ESPN, Davis said, “I can’t control the ball going in the basket every time, but on the defensive end, I can control a lot of things.”

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Whereas, LeBron added a game-high 22 points, five rebounds, and six assists. When asked about his teammate’s defensive skills, the 4x NBA champion said, “He was AD. Basketball guys know, the competition knows how dominant he is defensively. He was AD. He was spectacular.”

Detroit Pistons legend reacts to the Lakers’ victory

Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas was among the many who couldn’t stop admiring the Lakers’ defensive performance. While Thomas’ Playoff Central co-hosts applauded LA for the splendid game, the Pistons superstar was more impressed by their defensive tactics.

He said, “I always go to the defense, right? And holding this team to 85 points, that’s when you make the statement. It’s not how many points I score on you, it’s how many times I stop you from scoring. That’s what’s frustrating right.” 

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He added, “I mean, in defensively, they just had them spinning. It was a total lockdown. Great defensive effort by the Lakers.”

NFL Legend Left Baffled as 27 YO Grizzlies Star Evading Media Humiliation After LeBron James Defeat

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The Lakers will be facing the winning team of the Sacramento Kings-Golden State Warriors matchup in the conference semifinals.

WATCH THIS STORY: Minutes After LeBron James’ “Motherf*** Bum” Attack Comes to Light, Grizzlies Star Claps Back at ‘Old Bear’ LBJ

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Written by:

Siyari Debbarma

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Siyari Debbarma is a senior NBA writer at EssentiallySports. With over 700 articles under her belt, Siyari is an expert in providing in-depth analysis and coverage of the game. Her throwback article on Dennis Rodman's plea for help garnered more than 3.
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Edited by:

Aayush Kapoor