Los Angeles Lakers: 3 questions looming large as the postseason nears

Can Anthony Davis remain consistent?

So far, the answer is no. Late last month, NBA Hall of Famer and current television analyst Charles Barkley weighed in on the Los Angeles Lakers’ title odds, saying it was going to rely heavily on Anthony Davis. Speaking on The Herd with Colin Cowherd:

"“I love LeBron and everything about him, but it’s going to come down to Anthony Davis. Nobody in the NBA can matchup with Anthony Davis. To me, he’s going to be the guy who’s going to dictate whether the Lakers win the championship or not. That’s just my personal opinion.”"

Six games into the restart and Anthony Davis has been inconsistent as ever. To Barkley’s point, when Davis is in rhythm, he looks like he could be the best player on the planet. However, when he is struggling, the team struggles, regardless of how sensational LeBron James plays. Los Angeles’ two wins in the restart came at the hands of 34 and 42 point games from Davis, while all four of their losses have him scoring 17 points or less.

In this lackluster stretch, Davis is averaging a mere 20.7 points, far below his season average of 26.1 points per game. Following their 2-4 opening stretch in Orlando, the Los Angeles Lakers appear more vulnerable than ever and could fall short of their championship aspirations if Davis’s inconsistencies become the new normal.