Anthony Davis

Stephen A. Smith Responds To Anthony Davis Backlash

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Stephen A. Smith is someone who has certainly angered people with his commentary. Overall, he is paid millions of dollars to be a provocateur of sorts. However, not everyone appreciates when he criticizes a player or clowns them for their performance. Although, there are instances when the fans at home watching have legitimate gripes with what he is saying. Today, we saw that as he took to First Take and began joking with Jay Williams about Anthony Davis’ potential concussion.

For those who don’t know, Davis was elbowed by Kevon Looney. The hit was so hard that Davis left the game. Subsequently, he was taken off in a wheelchair. Overall, it was a scary incident that had many fearing for AD’s health. Although he is likely to play in Game 6, it was still pretty bad. However, many felt that Smith’s commentary was distasteful. There was plenty of backlash online, and now, Smith is responding. Instead of getting defensive, Stephen A. apologized and noted that what he did was wrong.

Read More: Lakers Can’t Close Out Warriors Series

Stephen A. Responds

“Blow back is Blow back. Comes with the territory, peeps,” Stephen A. said. “I was in no way minimizing the seriousness of a concussion. I was questioning whether Anthony Davis really had one, considering the play I saw & other hits I’ve seen him absorb. But, bottom line, it was wrong for me to do. Period! My bad.” Most of the time, the First Take host is completely unapologetic about this stuff. However, this instance seemed to be of a greater magnitude, and he understood that. As for Jay Williams, he has yet to respond to what took place. Whether or not he will remains to be seen.

His Original Comments

As for the whole Lakers Vs. Warriors series, the Lakers currently have a 3-2 lead. However, as the Corgi predicted, this series could very well end up going the distance. The Warriors seem hungry, and the Lakers are going to need to want it if they hope to make the Conference Finals. Having AD will certainly help the Lakers in that effort. Let us know what you thought of the Smith and Williams comments, down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the sports world.

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Anthony Davis Leaves Playoff Game In Weehlchair

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With seven minutes and 55 seconds left in Game 5 of the playoff series between the Lakers and Warriors, the Lakers were trailing by 13. It hadn’t been the night the Lakers, who were leading the series 3-1, had been hoping for. But there was still every chance for a series-ending comeback. Good load management meant that most of the Lakers’ starters were still on the court well into the fourth quarter.

D’Angelo Russell entered the game for the Lakers and less than 10 seconds later, was driving toward the Warriors’ basket. Anthony Davis and Kevin Looney both squared up for a potential rebound and as they did, Looney caught Davis in the temple with his elbow. Davis went down hard and nine seconds later, was subbed out for Rui Hachimura. After being evaluated on the Lakers’ bench, Davis was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair. He did not return to the game. The Lakers would go on to lose 121-106.

Davis Reportedly Doing Okay But Game 6 Status Unclear

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives past Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in game five of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Chase Center on May 10, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

However, Lakers fans should not lose hope after a scary hit to the head for Davis. “Obviously everyone saw he took a shot to the head, but we just checked on him,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said after the game. “He seems to be doing really good already. That’s just where he’s at. That’s the status of it right now.” Furthermore, neither Ham nor the medical staff mentioned Davis having a concussion. Despite this, Davis remains a game-time decision for Friday’s Game 6. However, the NBA’s concussion protocol means that Davis cannot be fully clear for the game until Thursday evening at the earliest.

Davis’ fellow Lakers remain optimistic about the forward’s chances of playing. “I believe he’ll play,” Austin Reaves told reporters. “The medical team said he’s doing better. That’s what matters most,” LeBron James added. Additionally, Davis was seen walking to the team bus unassisted as the Lakers departed for LA later on Wednesday evening. Despite the Game 5 loss, the Lakers still lead the series 3-2. They will have the chance to close out the series at home on Friday night. The Lakers are 6-0 at Crypto.com Arena this year during postseason play.

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DeMarcus Cousins Gives Anthony Davis Massive Praise

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DeMarcus Cousins got to play a lot of great basketball with the likes of Anthony Davis. Although Cousins ultimately left New Orleans and bounced around the league, he and AD were solid together. Overall, Davis has certainly upgraded in terms of his career trajectory. He got out of New Orleans and immediately won an NBA title with LeBron James. Now, he is in the fight of his life against the Golden State Warriors. He has looked fantastic, and consequently, fans are seeing him as a top-five player again.

Recently, DeMarcus Cousins got to speak on AD and his play as of late. Although Cousins may not be in the league anymore, he still knows a lot about the game. Overall, he is someone who has always been complimentary of AD. On Tuesday morning, Cousins continued that trend while on Run It Back with Shams Charania. During the interview, Cousins went so far as to say that Davis is the best player in the league. Although, the caveat here is that Davis needs to stay healthy.

Read More: DeMarcus Cousins Wants To Know Why He Isn’t In The League

DeMarcus Cousins Speaks

“He’s probably the most talented two-way player to ever touch the floor. When he’s committed, and when his mind is focused and he’s in the right place, on any given night, he’s going to be the best player on the floor, on both ends,” DeMarcus Cousins said. “Just his versatility alone, we’ve praised his versatility since he’s stepped foot in the league. We know what he is on the defensive side of the ball. When he’s locked in and focused and also when his health is in a good place, he’s one of the best players to touch the floor.”

At this point, the Lakers could very well win the title if Davis continues on this trajectory. Sure, injuries have been an issue, but this is the postseason and he looks great right now. Moreover, he has been able to ease the pressure on LeBron James. Now, the Lakers are as balanced as ever, and they are showing the league what they can do. Let us know if you agree with Cousins, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest news and updates from around the sports world.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Lakers Top Warriors 117-112 in Thrilling Game 1 Behind Anthony Davis 30-20 Game

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Game One of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors was as good as advertised. The Lakers emerged from the opening set as the winner, 117-112.

Coming into the game, the talk was about the fifth playoffs matchup between LeBron James and Stephen Curry. The game’s true star was Anthony Davis, who erupted for 30 points and 23 rebounds. He also added five assists and four blocks.

Davis is now the fifth player in Lakers history to drop 30 and 20, joining Shaquille O’Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Elgin Baylor.

“The Lakers franchise over the years, over the course of their existence, has always had dominant big men, dominant guys that have been a force at the rim,” James said. “That’s why their jerseys are in the rafters. AD will be up there when he’s done playing. The No. 3 will be up in the rafters. He continues to show why he’s one of the best players that we have in this league.”

“The guys gave the ball to me in the right spots,” Davis added. “A lot of it came out of pick-and-roll, post-ups, some offensive rebounds. Just being aggressive when I do catch [the ball], looking to score, looking to play make to the other guys.”

James finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds, D’Angelo Russell and Dennis Schroder added 19 points for the Lakers. Curry had 27, Klay Thompson had 25 points, Jordan Poole brought 21 off the bench, and Kevon Looney added 10 points and 23 rebounds.

Highlights from TNT are available below.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Lakers Top Warriors 117-112 in Thrilling Game 1 Behind Anthony Davis 30-20 Game appeared first on The Source.

SOURCE SPORTS: Poking a Bear Leads Grizzlies to 3-1 Hole After LeBron’s 20-20 Game

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Poking a Bear Leads Grizzlies to 3-1 Hole After LeBron's 20-20 Game

The bear roared in overtime of Game 4 of a first-round playoff series. Unfortunately for the city of Memphis, that bear wore Los Angeles Lakers purple and gold, not playing for the Grizzlies. In overtime, LeBron James took Dillon Brooks off the dribble from near half court for an And-1 lay-up to put the Grizzlies away for the night and open a 3-1 hole for the West’s 2-seed.

With the ball going through the hoop and the ref whistleblowing, LeBron focused on the Cryop.com Arena faithful and let out a roar that fired up the Lakers fans. James finished with his first 20-20 game, dropping 22 points and 20 rebounds. He would also add seven assists and two blocks.

“I’ve done some pretty cool things in my career,” James said. “I’ve never had 20 and 20 before. So, that’s pretty cool, I guess.”

What is cooler for King James is defending homecourt, needing just to win one of the final three games in this series to advance to the second round of the playoffs.

“He understands for us to get all of our other guys to do and make the right plays and sacrifice themselves, he has to be at the top of that list,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “Those charges represent him doing whatever it takes to put us in a position to succeed.”

In the game, Austin Reaves led the Lakers with scoring, dropping 23 points, Jarred Vanderbilt added 15, and D’Angelo Russell added 17. Desmond Bane had 36 points for the Grizzlies, Ja Morant added 19, and controversial Dillon Brooks had 11 points on 4-out-of-11 shooting.

Morant or Brooks did not make themselves available to the media after the game.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Poking a Bear Leads Grizzlies to 3-1 Hole After LeBron’s 20-20 Game appeared first on The Source.

Anthony Davis Interrupts LeBron Interview With Hilarious Apology

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The Lakers advance to the playoffs following a 108-102 overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Play-In tournament. In a strong team performance, the Lakers rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit. LeBron and Anthony Davis led the way with a pair of double-doubles. LeBron dropped 30 points and 10 rebounds while AD scored 24 and cleaned the glass with 15 rebounds. Together, the pair accounted for 50% of the Lakers’ points and 52% of their rebounds. However, the Lakers also relied on a great game from bench point guard Dennis Schroeder. Schroeder put up 21 points and four rebounds in 33 minutes of action.

Despite his standout numbers, it was also a mistake from Davis that forced the game into overtime. With 0.1 seconds on the clock, and the Lakers defending a three-point lead, Davis fouled Minnesota’s Mike Conley. Conley had been attempting a game-tying three but instead sent the game to overtime with a trio of free throws. It was one of three fouls AD picked up during the game. While the Lakers dominated the extra period, it was additional minutes they would have rather not played.

AD Finds LeBron To Apologize For “Brain Fart”

Evidently, Davis felt bad about the error that forced the vital game into overtime. In fact, he felt bad enough that he crashed LeBron’s post-game interview to apologize. During the interview, LeBron had been hyping the three-point jumper from Dennis Shroeder that put the Lakers up three. He then pointed off-screen at an unseen Davis, remarking “It’s unfortunate that AD had a brain fart and messed his game-winner up.” Davis then came into frame, grabbing the mic to loudly say, “I messed his game-winner up I apologize. I definitely apologize.”

Davis’ mistake didn’t end up costing the Lakers. LA outscored the Timberwolves 10-4 in the overtime period to come away with the win. However, Davis’ apology is a hilarious, and somewhat heartfelt moment. It speaks to the relationship between the Lakers’ two biggest stars. Furthermore, it highlights the locker room atmosphere that has kept the Lakers going through an overall disappointing regular season. Here’s hoping that Davis can keep his brain free of farts as the Lakers take on the Grizzlies in the first round.

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Kevin Garnett Gives Lakers Star His Flowers

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Kevin Garnett is liking what he has been seeing from Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis. Davis is starting to find his groove just as the season is winding down. However, the Lakers have post-season aspirations on their mind. Having a healthy and hungry Davis will put the league on notice. But Garnett is already taking notice. Garnett stated that he loves what he is seeing from the big man. Also, Garnett claimed that if Davis played this well all season, he would be in the MVP discussion.

The Lakers are 4-1 in their last five. With their last game being a loss to the Clippers. However, the Lakers are still turning heads. Many among the media believe the Lakers are a legit threat to the NBA title. Former Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas is just one of the people believing in the Lakers. Certainly, it is hard to count out the Lakers. Because the team is home to one of the greatest of all time in LeBron James. However, LeBron isn’t the x-factor for this team.

Kevin Garnett Loving What He Sees From Anthony Davis

Garnett is just one of the many people who know what Davis can do. The former number-one overall pick can be a dominant force. Undoubtedly, Davis played a huge role in the Lakers winning the 2020 NBA Championship. However, since the end of that season, Davis has battled injury after injury. The talent is there in Los Angeles. But the timing could be too little too late for the surging team. However, if any team is going to make an improbable run. The Lakers would be a good bet.

Kevin Garnett knows good talent when he sees it. The former Timberwolves star isn’t afraid, to tell the truth like it is. The Lakers are more talented than a few teams already sitting comfortably in the playoffs. However, the Lakers are continuing to fight for their playoff lives. The Lakers will finish up their regular season this weekend with games against the Jazz and the Suns. A chance at the sixth seed is still up for grabs. Can the Lakers avoid the play-in tournament? Please give us your thoughts in the comment section. For the latest news regarding the NBA, keep it right here at HNHH.

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LeBron James Speaks On Tough Stretch Of Schedule After Loss

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LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are making the final push for the playoffs. However, the team hit a snag with their loss to the Clippers on Wednesday. With the loss, the Lakers now will not control their playoff destiny. The team currently sits as the seventh seed of the Western Conference. When talking to the media after the loss, LeBron was asked about the schedule. Wednesday’s matchup was the back half of a back-to-back for the Lakers.

James mentioned that the scheduling didn’t do the team any favors. “It’s tough. It’s one of the toughest games we’ve had this year. … This was one of those scheduling conflicts in the season. And it definitely got the best of us tonight.” However, James understands that back-to-backs are a part of the game. An issue that the NBA has been serious about controlling in recent years. Teams have even taken the issue into their own hands. As the term load management has become popular throughout the league.

LeBron James Still Believes In The Lakers

No matter the schedule, the Lakers have battled with health all season long. James has recently been nursing a foot injury. While Anthony Davis has dealt with multiple issues since his arrival in Los Angeles. The team will be limping to the finish line no matter what. But making the finish line is all that matters. The loss is a setback but isn’t the final nail in the team’s coffin. The Lakers will finish up their season on Sunday with a meeting with the Utah Jazz.

The Lakers are not the only team that has to deal with back-to-back games. Unfortunately, the scheduling just seemed to come at the wrong time. However, the Lakers haven’t had much success with the Clippers as of late. Last night’s victory marked the eleventh straight for the Clippers over the Lakers. A huge win for the Clippers and former Laker Russell Westbrook. Is there a new king of LA? Can the Lakers get it together for an NBA Playoffs run? Drop your thoughts on the topic in the comment section below. For now, stay with us at HNHH for the latest NBA news.

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Will Anthony Davis Play In Pivotal Lakers-Clippers Matchup?

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Anthony Davis’ being healthy has been a huge factor in the Lakers success. The LA big man is a massive difference-maker for a team looking to secure a playoff spot. However, the Lakers have been extremely cautious about how to use Davis. While Davis is nearly unstoppable on the court, he can’t seem to avoid the injury. Which is why Lakers fans on nervous about the possibility of “The Brow” sitting out of a big matchup with the Clippers.

NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski appeared on ESPN’s Get Up this morning to discuss Davis’ availability. According to Woj, there’s a real possibility that Davis doesn’t give it a go against the Clippers. “There’s real question whether [AD] would play a back-to-back. … This is a significant, significant game for the Lakers against the Clippers tonight. Essentially, the sixth-seed is on the line.” Tonight’s game will be a huge factor in deciding the sixth seed in the Western Conference. However, playing on back-to-back nights has been a rarity for Davis.

Anthony Davis Needs To Play Against Clippers

Securing the sixth seed means avoiding the play-in tournament. With both LA teams seeking more rest, avoiding the play-in game could mean just that. However, there is a third variable in the equation. That variable is the Golden State Warriors. Three talented and veteran teams are hungry for that extra rest. Tonight’s game between the Lakers and Clippers will eliminate one from that discussion. If anything, the Lakers should treat this one like a playoff game.

Anthony Davis giving it a go tonight will not come as a surprise. The former Kentucky star knows what is at stake. Davis’ fellow teammate LeBron James has also dealt with injuries this season. However, James looks to be active for the game tonight. The Lakers-Clippers will tip at 10 pm EST. Both teams share a 41-38 record, and tonight’s game could be for some massive bragging rights. Who do you think will win the big matchup? Also, which team will earn the sixth seed? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. For the latest on the NBA Playoffs race, stay right here at HNHH.