LOS ANGELES (AP) — When JJ Redick was hired as the Los Angeles Lakers coach, he said one of his early goals was to make Anthony Davis the offensive hub. Two games into Redick's tenure, things are going according to plan. With 35 points Friday night in a 123-116 victory over the Phoenix Suns , Davis joined Jerry West and Elgin Baylor as the only Lakers to score at least 35 points in the first two games of a season.
“Guys are making big-time shots. We’re making the right plays,” said Davis, who also had eight rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots. “Honestly, the schematic that JJ put in has helped me out and is helping everyone out.
We just have so much space and we’re having fun doing it.” There was only one stretch last season where Davis had back-to-back, 35-point games. He had 36 points and 16 rebounds in the Lakers' 110-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
The game Friday had more drama. The Lakers fell behind by 22 points in the second quarter as Phoenix hit 21 of its first 30 shots. Los Angeles though made adjustments on defense and closed the deficit to 61-52 at halftime before rallying in the second half to get its first 2-0 start in 14 years.
Redick said one of the reasons why the Lakers were able to rally was Davis' patience despite the early deficit. “There’s a comfort level and a confidence level that he has that if the game starts getting wacky, he knows the ball is going to come back to him,” Redick said. In a g.
