🗣️ Anthony Davis Lets His Play Do The Talking

Anthony Davis does things his own way, and his way is working tremendously right now. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider: Anthony Davis is a soft-spoken superstar who is playing his best basketball right now ... we take a look inside the meeting that saved the Big Ten football season ... and we celebrate the anniversary of Mike Gundy’s unforgettable “I’m a man! I’m 40!” rant. Right around the time when Anthony Davis’ protracted exit from New Orleans was still in its infancy, when it was just starting to get really awkward and occasionally weird, the superstar center retreated a little bit further into his shell. Davis is not the loudest or most frequent of talkers at the best of times. He prefers to voice himself with actions and intentions, and after making it clear he wished to leave the Pelicans – presumably, and ultimately – to join the Los Angeles Lakers, the incessant scrutiny was wearing on him. His minutes were being consciously limited by head coach Alvin Gentry, and it was tense in the locker room after Davis requested a trade. After a game at the Staples Center against the Lakers in February of last year, Davis sat slumped and weary, giving away nothing as he spoke to the media. Until, that is, he was asked about a comment he’d made a few months prior, all about his goals and ambitions and where he saw himself in the hierarchy of the NBA’s finest players. [STORY IMAGE 1] “I feel I am there,” he told me. “I am there. In my mind that hasn’t changed.” “You’re one of the best?” I asked him, seeking clarity. “The best player in the league,” he emphasized, albeit in tones quiet enough that you had to crane your neck to hear them. That’s the thing about Davis that makes him somewhat unique in arguably sports' most colorful, unapologetic and outspoken league. He doesn’t strut and pose and walk around in a way that suggests he is one of basketball’s best. But he believes he is, which is far more important than all the rest of it. He believed it when he said it in the summer of 2018. He believed it when he sat in the Staples Center locker room that night 19 months ago, just down the corridor from his then-future and now-current teammate LeBron James. And, right now, there is a strong argument to say that he is playing like it. [STORY IMAGE 2] Davis’ game-winning 3-point shot against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night was an ice cold dagger that surely ripped the heart out of any chance the Nuggets had of getting back into the Western Conference finals. The shot gave the Lakers a 2-0 advantage and as much momentum as their rival has frustration. There is more to it than that though. Davis is a force for which there is no present solution and he is figuring out how to co-exist most effectively with James. As a tandem, they are beginning to look unstoppable. FOX Bet has the Lakers listed as heavy favorites to win this year’s NBA title at -400. “If the Lakers go on to win the championship we’ll look back at this shot as the official coming out party for Anthony Davis,” [FOX Sports NBA analyst Chris Broussard said]( about the Game 2 stunner. “He goes from being a current great player to an all-time great player.” [STORY IMAGE 3] Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets All-Star big man, was a problem that neither the Utah Jazz nor the Los Angeles Clippers could fix, but Davis is able to impose his will, embrace the battle, and still have something special left in the tank. James voiced his annoyance earlier this week that he received no more than 16 of the 101 votes for MVP compared to the 85 of runaway winner Giannis Antetokounmpo. At least part of that situation was likely because of the credit given to Davis for making things easier for him. In essence, by handpicking Davis as the man he wanted to join him in Tinseltown, James kind of brought it upon himself. An NBA championship would surely ease any of that lingering angst. In a year’s time, the roles might be reversed, because these playoffs have given us a glimpse of what happens when Davis takes the lead in terms of assertive control. The Lakers, presumably, are enjoying how that looks. “I’m happy to be here with him to give him any advice or for him to lean on me,” James told reporters. “To be completely honest, in the second half, I leaned on him and he brought us home.” [STORY IMAGE 4] Davis is averaging 28.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in the playoffs, and you can sense he is capable of dominating games even more. If the Lakers are going to complete this bubble journey in the way they want to, they will be leaning on Davis again. In terms of being the ultimate basketball alpha, James fits that role perfectly – walking the walk, speaking with passion, intensity, and everything that screams “superstar.” Davis does things his own way, but his way is working tremendously right now. He is making one heck of a noise, with his actions, not words. [STORY IMAGE 5] Here’s what others have said ... Jonathan Tjarks, The Ringer: “Anthony Davis finally has his playoff moment. The Lakers big man has always had the potential to be the face of the NBA. His talent is undeniable. Not many players his size (6-foot-10 and 250 pounds with a 7-foot-6 wingspan) have ever had the ability to move, shoot, and dribble like him.” Michael Shapiro, Sports Illustrated: “We should take a moment to underscore just how dominant (Anthony) Davis has been in the playoffs. He is averaging 28 points and 10 rebounds per game on 65% true shooting, a mark matched by only Hakeem Olajuwon in a single playoffs. Davis is punishing Denver from all areas of the floor, and the Nuggets have paid the price. This deficit will likely be too much for the NBA’s preeminent comeback kids. Taking down one Los Angeles superteam will have to suffice in 2020.” Rajon Rondo, Los Angeles Lakers: “He’s arguably the best scorer in our game. He’s 7 feet tall. He can take bigs off the dribble. He can post smalls. He’s a foul magnet and shoots 99 percent from the line, so he’s definitely a great option to have ... He’s always been a dominant force for any opponent he’s ever played against ... I’m extremely happy for him as a teammate, as a friend. And I love watching him grow.” [IN OTHER WORDS] - The Las Vegas Raiders looked outstanding in a 34-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football. [Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski]( writes that the victory was a defining moment for Raiders QB Derek Carr and head coach Jon Gruden. - He is miffed about not winning the MVP Award, and rightfully so. [Kurt Streeter of the New York Times]( explains how LeBron James’ magic on and off the court is often unfairly taken for granted. - The Big Ten is playing football this year, and it all came down to updated medical reports. [ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg and Heather Dinich]( take us inside the meeting that saved the Big Ten football season. [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED] [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED]( Today marks the anniversary of one of the most memorable sound bites in sports history. It was this day, exactly 13 years ago, when Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy went on a rant during a postgame news conference after a journalist wrote something negative about quarterback Bobby Reid. “Come after me. I’m a man! I’m 40,” shouted Gundy. You’d be hard-pressed to find any article on the topic of all-time sports rants that wouldn’t include this at the top of the list. Sit back, relax, hit play, and crack a smile as you relive this unforgettable rant on its anniversary date. [VIEWER'S GUIDE] New York Yankees at Toronto Blue Jays (ESPN, 6:30 p.m. ET) Gerrit Cole takes the mound for the New York Yankees, who go up against Tanner Roark and the Toronto Blue Jays. Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets (TNT, 9 p.m. ET) LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers battle Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of this Western Conference Finals matchup. Texas Rangers at Arizona Diamondbacks (FS1, 9 p.m. ET) Jordan Lyles takes the hill for the Texas Rangers, who take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. Oakland Athletics at Los Angeles Dodgers (ESPN, 9:30 p.m. ET) Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers host Matt Olson and the Oakland Athletics. [BET OF THE DAY] [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by FOX Bet Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets Each Team over 110.5 points: +295 When you have LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray all on the floor, there are going to be a lot of points put up on the scoreboard. The Lakers have averaged just over 114 points per game during this postseason, while the Nuggets have put up an average of 107 points per contest. Taking each team to top 110.5 points in this Game 3 matchup seems like a solid play that could lead to a nice, little payday on your Tuesday evening. [WHAT THEY SAID] “What do you do with a mistake: recognize it, admit it, learn from it, forget it.” — Dean Smith [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download FOX Sports App: [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [Google Play]( [App Store]( [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [App Store]( [Google Play]( Also available on these devices: [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2020 Fox Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. 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