On January 26, Beijing time, Davis made a comeback in a game against the Nets. In this game, the effect brought by Davis is very significant. Although Davis was average on the offensive end throughout the game, his performance on the defensive end took the team's defensive level up a notch. So, what help did Davis' comeback help the Lakers?
First point: Davis' comeback has improved the team's interior defense and led to the outside defense
Before Davis' comeback, the Lakers played the No. 5 position mainly by James and Howard. James played in the No. 5 position for a long time, and because his height did not dominate the center position, he could not limit the opponent's attack under the basket or have the advantage in grabbing rebounds. Although Howard has a height advantage, he moves slowly and has difficulty keeping up with opposing defenders, so he has a poor defensive blocking effect on the defensive end. Davis's strength is that he moves faster, his height and arm span also support him from the first position to the fifth position, the Lakers can make a lot of changes, and the opposing guard will be limited on the offensive end.
Davis guarded the inside and Vogel reused Stanley Johnson to improve the team's forward defence. Throughout the game, Stanley Johnson has been leading Harden, and his defense has limited Harden's performance on the offensive end very well. In addition, as Davis town guards the inside, James will play some bold defense on the outside, such as two consecutive steals and counter-attack dunks. James said Davis' defense drove other teammates, and the Lakers as a whole were more focused on the defensive end.
Second point: Davis' return is conducive to the Lakers playing a lot of defensive counterattacks
As mentioned above, after Davis returns, it is difficult for opponents to take advantage of the offensive end. Once Davis' defense is successful, the Lakers can play a quick counterattack. In this game against the Nets, the Lakers scored a lot of points in the fast attack and played real Lakers basketball. James and Westbrook are both good at pushing fast attacks, and James has a lot of energy involved in the defensive end. After Davis' return, James can focus more on the offensive end, one is to complete the rapid counterattack himself, and the other is that James can also have more physical strength on the offensive end to create offensive opportunities.
Third point: Davis' return gives Lakers shooters more open shooting opportunities
Davis attracts a lot of defensive attention on the offensive end, at which point goalscorers such as Munch and Anthony can have a lot of shooting space. In this game, Davis did not insist on singles and possession of the ball, he constantly blocked his teammates on the offensive end. In this campaign, because Davis was plagued by fouls, he did not have too many shots. But as long as Davis stands under the basket, the Lakers can create scoring opportunities on the inside.
All in all, Davis's return has improved the overall offensive and defensive level of the Lakers. On the defensive end, Davis eased the pressure on James. On the offensive end, James also has more physical strength to handle the ball. Davis' return has made James play more efficiently.