The latest updates on Anthony Davis, who exited Game 5 of the Lakers‘ series against Golden State on Wednesday due to an apparent head injury, continue to bode well for the big man’s status going forward.
Head coach Darvin Ham told reporters on Thursday that Davis didn’t have to enter the NBA’s concussion protocol and should be available for Game 6 on Friday, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Davis has been formally listed as probable to play — his designation on the official injury report refers only to an existing right foot issue, not any sort of head injury.
Davis, who was inadvertently hit in the head by Kevon Looney on Wednesday, was taken out of the game because he was feeling “woozy,” a source told ESPN, but Ham said on Thursday that the 30-year-old is “not showing any signs of anything.” The Lakers’ coach added that he was relieved by Davis’ prognosis.
“It’s huge,” Ham said. “He’s the centerpiece of what we’re trying to do on both sides of the ball and for us just in general for our success rate. So that was great, great news.”
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Ham admitted that there’s a temptation to make minor changes to the Lakers’ starting lineup for a crucial Game 6 on Friday, but also pointed out that the team has won three games with its current starters, per McMenamin. “We’ll sleep on some things, some suggestions and some ideas that we have and then wake up in the morning ready to make a final decision,” Ham said on Thursday. L.A. has used the same starting five in all 11 playoff games so far.
- Ham and star forward LeBron James were among those who pushed back against Steve Kerr‘s claim that the Lakers are flopping to get foul calls, with Ham taking exception to the accusation, writes Josh Peter of USA Today. “We play a physical brand of basketball,” Ham said after the team’s Game 5 loss. “We don’t teach flopping, we don’t teach head snaps. You see (James), he’s got a thousand scratches on his arms, same with (Davis), same with Austin Reaves, same with Lonnie Walker. It’s unfortunate that it comes to that, but we hadn’t done it all year, and we’re damn sure not going to start now, looking for a third party to dive in and help us.”
- Lakers center Mohamed Bamba, who has missed the entire second round due to a left ankle injury, told Marc J. Spears of Andscape (Twitter link) that he thinks he could return to action if the team advances to the Western Finals. Even if he’s healthy and available, Bamba wouldn’t be a regular part of the Lakers’ postseason rotation, but he’d provide some additional emergency depth up front.
Funny from Kerr, as GSW are the flopping masters, right?
No, that’d be the Celtics.
No, that’d be GSW
There isn’t a Golden State School of Flopping, But there is a Marcus Smart School of Flopping
Yes exactly. I think Marcus Smart is the king of floppers. There’s a lot of guys who come in second but smart is the overall Leader by a long shot.
@El Don – yeah sure buddy, that’s why AD flopped like a fish, cried, and left the floor in a wheelchair, while Andrew Wiggins fractured his ribs and played through it. Relax casual
El Don always wrong.
Even if players are flopping, calling it out is such a whiny move and looks very unprofessional. Every team does it. Every player does it. Just play the game.
And fans, make up your mind. Are the refs not calling enough flops or they’re too involved and deciding games? Hmm? I’ll wait…
Reeves has become the new Harden of the NBA. Whenever he goes up for a shot he twerks his body to fake a foul. That is why he got 10 FTA in a game. When they hit a screen they flop on the ground to make it look illegal. Just facts.
I read Reeves admitted he studied film of Harden. I wouldn’t say every player does it but some players are very good at it. Flopping has been around forever. Derek Fisher was good at it too. Until there’s a solution, I don’t see the problem with taking advantage of this. Reeves is smart to study film on Harden and it’s likely the reason why he’s getting so many free throw attempts. If you don’t embellish, you don’t get a call. Perfect example is Lebron getting slapped 5 or 6 times on that layup and didn’t get a whistle. Reminds me of when Shaq got beat up but didn’t get any calls also. Bottom line is that flopping is rewarded and I don’t see the downside of it. It gives you an advantage. Who cares if people think you are a flopper? It’s smart basketball.
LeBron bully ball players in the paint shoving his shoulder in the opponents chest. Curry gets slap push and held and rarely a foul call. NBA needs to start throwing Ts out to players next year when they flop. I do hate the throw your body into a player to get a call which many NBA players do.
LeBron gets fouled everytime he goes inside. He’s strong and doesn’t get moved as easily as some guards. If they called every foul on LeBron he’d 30 free throws a game.
As far as Steph? He takes 20 shots a game and over half of of those are from deep, one doesn’t get fouled all that much when taking jumpers yet he still averages 5 free throws a game.
Quick, somebody send all 10k LeFlops on YouTube to Ham so he can see what Kerr & the entire world sees.
Do it next season right now you’re going fishing LOL
NBA offices could care less about flopping. They love the “drama”.