Anthony Davis’ intentions questioned after woeful performance in loss to Timberwolves

Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas questioned Anthony Davis for his leadership following the Lakers' disappointing loss to the Timberwolves.

Anthony Davis’ intentions questioned after woeful performance in loss to Timberwolves

Anthony Davis questioned for leadership amid Lakers' struggles

On Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a heavy 80-109 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking their fifth defeat in seven games. While LeBron James’ offensive struggles were the highlight of the night for many despite his age, the spotlight is now shifting to Anthony Davis.

Davis’ underwhelming display has raised doubts about his willingness to embrace the mantle of leadership. The loss was a continuation of the Lakers’ recent struggles, with Davis finishing with just 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting.

Speaking on the Gil’s Arena show, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas weighed in on the matter. He suggested that Davis might be shying away from the responsibility.

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Maybe he [Davis] doesn’t want to be responsible for losing games. Maybe he can’t take the pressure of dropping this game. Like, I’d rather let the 40-year-old do it because I don’t want the responsibility, if we lose, Laker Nation will be on me.

Gilbert Arenas stated

Arenas’ remarks reflect the frustrations of fans and analysts who see Anthony Davis as the linchpin of the Lakers’ success. His reluctance to dominate, especially in critical moments, is becoming a focal point of discussion. Despite his subpar outing against Minnesota, Davis’s season averages of 27.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and two blocks per game show that he still can be a game-changer.

Head coach JJ Redick had previously outlined that Davis, not LeBron James, should be the focal point of the Lakers’ offense. The defeat ignited concerns about Davis’s ability to assert himself as the leader during critical stretches of games.

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Anthony Davis addresses LA Lakers’ struggles

Anthony Davis is well aware of his responsibility as one of the leaders of the Lakers squad. As the team continued to struggle, he pointed to their shaky defense and the inconsistency of their offense as some of the primary factors affecting the team.

We’ve shown moments of offensive brilliance, but defensively we’ve been shaky. When we shift our focus to defense, our offense tends to falter. We need to return to the form we exhibited earlier in the season, excelling on both ends of the court.

Anthony Davis said after the loss to the Timberwolves

Davis acknowledged the team’s potential which they showcased early in the season, starting out strong. However, since then, the inconsistency on both ends of the floor has been the story of the season for a Lakers team trying to establish a new identity under rookie head coach JJ Redick.

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The Lakers have a chance to turn things around on Wednesday when they face the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. With the Heat sitting at 9-10, the matchup presents an opportunity for the Lakers to address their two-way deficiencies. However, questions remain about whether Davis can step up and lead the team back to its early-season form.