5 Ways Anthony Davis Can Improve Next Season
5. Meanness:
Dec 2, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) attempts to knock the ball away from New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Some of you might be rolling your eyes right now because you’re tired of buzzwords like “aggressiveness” and “killer mentality” being thrown around by hack sports commentators and critics. I’m with you, it’s annoying, but in some cases it actually translates statistically.
A common theme from this past season was the reluctance of the Pelican’s guards to defer to Davis in key moments and throughout the game.
Tyreke Evans had a 26.2% usage rate this season while Davis ended the season at 25.9. There’s no reason a top five player in the league shouldn’t league his team in usage, and it’s partially Davis’ fault he was put in that position.
In some ways I get it, because he is the youngest player on his team and most of his teammates are seasoned young veterans. Regardless, he needs to be more assertive.
Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook were tied for “Most made shots per game” this season, despite Davis making 9.4 out of 17.6 and Westbrook making 9.4 out of 22.0.
I don’t want Davis driving people out of town like Kobe has done these past few seasons, but he should be confident and demanding enough to let his teammates know he deserves a certain amount of attention.
It matters against competition as well. There was one awesome moment in the playoffs this season when Marreese Speights started egging Davis on and trying to push him around.
For the first time in Davis’ career, he got physical with Speights. He didn’t fight him, and I’m not advocating violence in any way, but he let Speights know he needed to back off and he got in his face just enough to change the pace of the game.
Even the kindest superstars know when to get riled up.
Tim Duncan knows when to approach a ref, and he sure as hell wouldn’t let a player like Tyreke Evans hold back his production. Anthony Davis is one of the most underutilized players in the league, and it’s his job to correct that.
If everything here goes right, we’re looking at a three-point-shooting, playmaking, 6’11” post scoring master, with a 7’6″ wingspan and a mean hard-nosed mentality that will have him scoring 30 a game and yelling at everyone while he does it.
I don’t think I’m being rash at all when I say that would be a guaranteed top 10 player of all time…..
Next: Pelicans Guard Jrue Holiday and the Robert Parish Theory