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What Anthony Davis’ injury means for the Nuggets

By Quenton S. Albertie

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 24: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes down holding his ankle after taking a shot during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 24, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 24: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes down holding his ankle after taking a shot during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 24, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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The Denver Nuggets have an opportunity to take advantage of Anthony Davis’ injury in Game 5.

Los Angeles Lakers All-NBA big man Anthony Davis is listed as questionable for Game 5 after he rolled and sprained his ankle in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. Whether or not Davis plays in what amounts to an elimination game for the Denver Nuggets, Denver must take advantage of AD’s injury or risk going home.

While Davis went as far as to say that his ankle “feels fine” after Game 4 (h/t Lakers Nation’s Corey Hansford), ankle injuries are just as tricky as groin or hamstring injuries due to the fact that inactivity can cause that body part to stiffen and feel more sore. Even if a player is medically cleared to play, their ability to play or change direction at full speed, or even to leap could be impacted by these types of injuries.

That said, Lakers head coach Frank Vogel may opt to sit Davis for Game 5. After all, it’s not as if a loss will lead to Los Angeles being sent home afterwards and the team would like AD to be as healthy as possible in a potential NBA Finals berth.

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If Davis doesn’t play, then the path to victory for the Nuggets in Game 5 just got that much easier, as AD has been the most impactful player for LA this series. It could mean easier shot opportunities offensively and less strenuous work defensively.

Nonetheless, if Davis does play, then Denver must make him work extra hard defensively by making him guard out on the perimeter and attacking him off-the-dribble or by attacking the rim when he’s in the paint. This will test AD’s ability to move laterally and vertically in the wake of his injury and should serve to put more strain on his ankle.

This means that Jamal Murray, as the team’s primary ball-handler and playmaker on the perimeter, has the most responsibility and opportunity to use AD’s injury against him. It also places the onus on players like Jerami Grant and Michael Porter Jr., who find themselves matched up against Davis at times, to take the ball to the rim rather than settling for spot-up opportunities all the time.

If the Nuggets can get AD to be less impactful defensively, where he’s held Grant and Paul Millsap to a combined 2-14 shooting from the field (the rest of the team is a combined 23-43 when shooting against Davis), then they obviously stand a better chance of winning. However, by making Davis expend more energy on defense and wearing on his injury. they could effect his offense, especially as the game goes along.

With AD averaging 32.3 points per game in the Conference Finals and his 12 total clutch points being the highest of either team in the Western Conference Finals, taking advantage of his ankle sprain could be a way of throwing cold water on his hot scoring.

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There should be no intent to cause Davis further injury but Denver may have caught a break with AD’s ankle sprain.

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