Los Angeles Lakers story lines no one is talking about

3. Anthony Davis is not shooting well

There have been nights this season when Anthony Davis plays better than he ever has.

In an Oct. 29 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Davis posted 40 points and 20 rebounds, setting a Lakers franchise record by making 26 free throws (on 27 attempts). That was two days after Davis poured in 25 points in the first half of a win over the Charlotte Hornets. Against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, Davis sealed L.A.’s victory with a blocked shot in the final seconds.

Davis is averaging 24.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, and he leads the NBA with 3.2 blocks per game.

On the flip side, Davis is shooting a career-worst 47.5 percent from the field and he’s hitting only 25.0 percent of his 3-point tries. It may have something to do with the nagging shoulder issues that have plagued Davis recently.

Davis hasn’t had any egregiously terrible shooting performances so far — his shot chart doesn’t look like anything we’ve seen from James Harden occasionally or Lonzo Ball consistently — but his percentages are noticeably down in the early stages of the season.

Shooting range from the field is one of the things that sets Davis apart and makes him an elite NBA big man. His versatility can make the Los Angeles Lakers’ offense seemingly unstoppable. When his shot isn’t falling, the Lakers can look very vulnerable.

There’s no good reason to believe Davis won’t shoot his way through this slump. His 87.0 percent accuracy at the free throw line is a career-best and a good indicator that he still knows what he’s doing as a shooter. In the meantime, Davis remains a threat all over the court that defenses have to respect.

It’s no cause for alarm, but something worth watching as the games become more important later in the schedule.