Preview: Warriors take on Anthony Davis without Draymond Green

Golden State’s frontcourt will need to find some magic tonight without their best defender to contain Davis.

The Golden State Warriors are suiting up for a Pacific Division clash with their rivals from Los Angeles, as the Lakers welcome them to SoCal.

The Warriors are in a tough spot with their front court stars Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga slated to miss this contest. And while the Lakers’ LeBron James is questionable for the contest, they still have a monster big man to deal with: Anthony Davis.

Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers

When: January 25th, 2024 | 5:30 PM PT

TV: ABC

Radio: 95.7 The Game

Davis is the big man every Warriors fan secretly builds in their MyPlayer. He’s 6’10” with the agility of a guard, the wingspan of a pterodactyl, and the kind of scoring touch that makes opposing coaches reconsider their life choices. AD is the prototype for what you want in the modern NBA big: a versatile two-way force who can dominate on both ends of the floor. And for the Warriors specifically, he’s like a fever dream you’d have after watching Kevin Durant highlights on repeat. Except this one involves Steph Curry throwing lobs to a skyscraper.

Let’s break it down: Davis is tailor-made to plug into the Warriors’ style of play. He can defend at an elite level across all five positions, meaning the Warriors could switch everything forever. He’s the guy you want on an island against Luka Doncic and the guy you want patrolling the paint against Ja Morant. On offense, he’s basically a cheat code. You want him in the pick-and-roll with Steph?

That’s a guaranteed bucket. Want him as a floor-spacer? Sure, AD’s jumper isn’t exactly Klay Thompson’s, but leave him open and you’re cooked. And don’t even get me started on his ability to create for himself in the post—something Warriors fans have only seen in fever dreams since the days of David West’s 12-foot fadeaways.

Per Yahoo! Sports, Davis is hooping super well this year:

Davis is following up a stellar 2023-24 campaign with arguably an even better one so far. He’s averaging 25.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 blocks per game this season while shooting 52.3% from the field. He’s also hitting 31.5% from 3-point range, and while that isn’t impressive, it’s his highest mark from that distance since L.A.’s last championship season.

But what makes AD the ideal big man for the Warriors is also what makes him the biggest headache to deal with as opposition. Facing Davis is like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube while it’s actively setting you on fire. He’s too quick for traditional centers, too strong for wings, and too skilled to leave unattended. Double him, and he’ll find the open man. Play him straight up, and you’re getting barbecue chicken for dinner.

The problem for teams like the Warriors is that AD can single-handedly wreck their small-ball schemes. You can’t out-small Davis. He’s too big, too skilled, and too athletic to neutralize without sacrificing your defensive game plan. And when he’s healthy (yes, the eternal asterisk), he can tilt the balance of a playoff series all by himself.

In short, Davis is the Warriors’ ideal big man. But when he’s on the other side, he’s the embodiment of a “you can’t have nice things” reminder.