preface
Recently, Lakers star Davis was injured again, and four weeks later, Davis will check the injury again. You know, Davis just came back two weeks ago. In one season, Davis was injured twice, which confirmed his nickname as "Glass Man". Davis's injury has also caused discussion among fans and the media, that is, is Davis still suitable as the core of the Lakers? Judging from the current Lakers' roster, the overall age of the team is older, and James, Howard, Anthony and Ariza are all older stars. Westbrook, James and Davis are a big three combination, but they are either not in the top form or vulnerable to injury. The Lakers will not trade James, and Westbrook will not be able to send away, so is Davis still suitable as the core of the Lakers' team?
First, from the perspective of maintaining health, it is not appropriate
Since Davis joined the Lakers, he has only achieved basic full attendance in the first season, and that season, the Lakers' regular season record is quite good, and the playoffs finally succeeded in winning the championship. However, after winning the title, Davis' mentality seems to have changed and his weight has gained. Davis missed dozens of games last season with injuries and James came under tremendous pressure. Davis has remained vulnerable to injuries this season, first with a sprained knee ligament and most recently with a midfoot sprain, both of which have left Davis out of at least two months. For the Lakers, James and Davis are the basic game, and if both are missing, it will be difficult for the team to achieve good results in the regular season. James is the lakers' offensive core, while Davis is the lakers' defensive core. Once Davis is injured, the Lakers' defensive system will be in pieces. Therefore, in terms of maintaining health, Davis is not suitable as the core of the Lakers' team.
Second, from the perspective of the lineup, Davis is suitable as the core of the Lakers' team
Within the league, Davis is one of the most technically comprehensive interior lines. On the offensive end, Davis can eat pie under the basket and score from the middle. On the defensive end, Davis can go from the number one to the fifth position, and he is one of the few interior players in the league who can defend the block. In the Lakers championship season, the combination of James and Davis can be a headache for opponents. James' blocking and dismantling with Davis at that time was very effective, and the opponent could only choose one or the other, either to let James attack or to let Davis score. However, after the Lakers traded to Westbrook this season, Davis played very badly. Since Westbrook is the team's starting point guard, once the opponent contracts the inside line, it is difficult for Davis to get offensive space under the basket. In fact, when James holds the ball, Davis plays the most comfortably. James can tackle the basket, he can also shoot, and most importantly, he has a great passing vision, and Davis can get a lot of offensive opportunities. Therefore, the Lakers should not have traded Laiwei Shao, because they could not play the biggest role of Davis. The Lakers shouldn't have sent Rondo away, who was more able to play Davis's role than Westbrook.
How should the Lakers use Davis?
In fact, in the 2019-20 season, the Lakers used Davis in the right way. The Lakers have two major interiors on the inside, Howard and McGee, two traditional centers who can eat cakes on the inside and send blocks, effectively reducing the pressure on Davis. Now, in order for the Lakers to maximize The Westbrook's role, Davis played the No. 5 position for a long time, which made him prone to injury and the efficiency of the ball will be reduced. The biggest problem with the Lakers is the problem of the lineup system, and coach Vogel is too superstitious about the five small lineups, resulting in James and Davis playing the No. 5 position for a long time. This season, James and Davis have played the No. 5 position for a long time, and the team has not found a suitable substitute for them. Once James or Davis aren't on the floor, the Lakers' lineup system feels like it collapses.
The Lakers should not use the five small lineups as a regular lineup, and if they use a traditional center lineup, the pressure on Davis can be reduced. In a game between the Lakers and the Kings this season, Davis and Howard were on the floor at the same time, and the Lakers played a very efficient defense. The Lakers have used five small lineups for a long time this season, resulting in James and Davis being easily injured, which is really not worth the loss.