El Segundo, CA — On the road to the 2020 title for the Los Angeles Lakers, Anthony Davis He showed the sheer versatility of his game, shooting anywhere from 3 to 40% in the NBA bubble playoffs.
Last season, Davis’ outside shots fell off a cliff and his 3-point percentage plummeted to 18.6%, helping the Lakers cross the arc and rank 22nd in the league.
Overall, it was a disappointing season for Davis, who missed 42 games with knee and ankle injuries. He revealed on Tuesday the second day of the Lakers’ training camp under new coach Durbin Hamm that he was dealing with a previously undisclosed illness affecting his accuracy. .
“A lot of people don’t know this, but since January I’ve been battling a wrist injury all year. No, but it was hard to shoot the way I wanted to.
How bad was it?
“I couldn’t make it to the end,” Davis said. “Every time I followed it, it was very painful, and I had to do it over and over again.”
The Lakers center is confident his approach to the offseason has been cautious, with a video in June showing Davis saying he hasn’t shot a basketball since the regular season ended two months ago. was circulated on social media, there was some criticism.
“I am 100 percent healthy,” Davis said. “I feel great. You can ask people here, I really shoot the ball, so I’m ready. Wherever I put it, if there’s a shot, I’ll shoot it.”
Hamm has repeatedly said fixing the Lakers’ poor defense is his number one priority, but Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said this week that the team’s outside shooting will also be a priority. acknowledged that it was a concern of
“As far as shooting goes, I think it’s a necessary skill,” Pelinka said on Monday’s Media Day. But shooting growth can also come from within, and I feel we have some players on our team this year who will see that growth.”
mentioned by ham Patrick Beverly, lebron james, Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn and a newcomer Max Christie When Scottie Pippen Jr.As an outstanding marksman early in camp.
Beverly is one of the players on the roster who the Deep believes could be in danger. When a reporter suggested to the veteran guard that his offensive role could include a cut to the basket this season, he was quick to counter.
“My numbers say I shot a 3,” Beverly said. “I don’t know if I should cut it. I don’t know if your number indicates if you’re a reporter. I don’t know if you should be a firefighter or something, not a job or a title.” I don’t want to cut it because you don’t want to do it.
Beverly pointed to a 39% catch-and-shoot 3 shot percentage in Minnesota last season. Stephen Curry 39.5% catch-and-shoot success for the Golden State Warriors.
“Numbers don’t lie,” said Beverly. “Obviously an elite catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter. My defense has always been front-line because people see it. I am shooting with the players of
