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Los Angeles Lakers: Why LA’s duo is the best in the league

By Jason Reed

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 24: Anthony Davis (L) and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attend Game Four of the 2019 WNBA Playoff semifinals between the Washington Mystics and the Las Vegas Aces at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on September 24, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mystics defeated the Aces 94-90 and won the series 3-1. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 24: Anthony Davis (L) and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attend Game Four of the 2019 WNBA Playoff semifinals between the Washington Mystics and the Las Vegas Aces at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on September 24, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mystics defeated the Aces 94-90 and won the series 3-1. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. The “bad defense” narrative will prove to be completely false

The one thing that naysayers will point out about the Los Angeles Lakers — the one thing that is viewed as the team’s Achilles’ Heel this season — is the lack of good defense. We have already covered extensively why the team will be better than people think defensively while LeBron and Davis lead that narrative.

The one thing that draws other duos, such as Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, closer to the Lakers’ is the defense. Leonard and George are undoubtedly a better defensive duo than LeBron and Davis, that we cannot deny. However, that gap is smaller than a lot of people think.

First and foremost, Anthony Davis is one of the best defenders not only at his position but in the entire league. After all, he is a three-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team and has led the league in blocks three times.

You have probably heard the Davis for Defensive Player of the Year narrative and that narrative absolutely holds true. There is a likely chance that Davis ends up on the All-Defensive First Team this year.

The one that is viewed as the bad defender is LeBron, which is a narrative that has really taken off and has not been as indicative as people like to think. This is a guy that has been named to the All-Defensive Team six times in his career, albeit the last time was in 2014.

LeBron may no longer be one of the 10 best defenders in the league but he absolutely can hold his own. He has the size and athleticism and as we have seen, he has perhaps the most clutch help defense we have ever seen.

And let’s be honest: James has not really been trying much on the defensive end the last few years. That should not simply be ignored, but we should know by now that when the going gets tough LeBron once again becomes an above-average defender.

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