Anthony Davis | The perfect co-pilot

How good is Anthony Davis right now? Should he be the Defensive Player of the Year? Discussed in the MVP conversation? This detailed film breakdown & scouting report of the Los Angeles Laker star big man details his incredible lob finishing while incorporating analytics & stats to assess his overall impact.
Support and find more at Patreon: / thinkingbasketball
Podcast: On Spotify, Apple, www.stitcher.com/podcast/ben-... or at player.fm/series/thinking-bas...
Website: www.backpicks.com
Book: www.amazon.com/Thinking-Baske...
Twitter: @elgee35
Ben Taylor is the author of Thinking Basketball, a Nylon Calculus contributor, creator of the Backpicks Top 40 series & host of the Thinking Basketball podcast.
Stats courtesy:
www.pbpstats.com @bballport
www.basketball-reference.com
stats.nba.com
IMPACT METRICS
-Backpicks BPM is a proprietary model that focuses on player skill instead of situational value. It is box score only.
-PIPM is a hybrid model (box score and plus-minus) that "luck-adjusts" plus-minus data (regresses FT% and 3pt%) to account for noise and is more sensitive to a player's role/fit on a given team. Created by @JacobEGoldstein
-RAPTOR is 538's model that blends box score information, plus-minus data and player tracking data to estimate player impact. projects.fivethirtyeight.com/...
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Footage in this video is owned by the NBA and its partners. It is intended for critique and education.
Music by Mikey Geiger | Bames Jond

[@thermostatting977]

You ever watch something on KZbin and be like I can’t believe this is free content?

[@zzcc229]

Yeah every J Kyle Mann's video

[@NatruallyAwesome]

Its only free if you value your time at $0 Edit: I'm referring to the time spent watching ads, the actual content is great

[@mariamartins367]

Like the vid if you want to help

[@nocrab]

Just did!

[@amlansanyal9663]

Every Jon Bois video

[@eliasdiwan4079]

Ben, stop shooting long 2s and stretch your videos out to 10 mins, it’s more efficient ad revenue

[@Blippy-hb4by]

True lol

[@TheMaciekm]

Ben had better check that analytics tab more often

[@libraalibaba]

Lol...it's only a few seconds. He isn't greedy I guess.

[@gideoncheung8731]

I was thinking wait, Ben doesn't shoot🤔🤔🤔

[@jeanmacalino8143]

he needs to stop settling for 2s cause he aint ben simmons, baaaabyyy.

[@misaelchalas6338]

Ad's brow: +10 lob +30 Mid range +300 charm

[@biglicker4473]

Lmao i laughed so loud 😂

[@bobby_carmins]

This is gold

[@davidwilliams316]

Im not a believer in his mid range game but yeah. He is a monster. I think he an underrated passer.he should be more like leBron.

[@misaelchalas6338]

@@davidwilliams316 no. More like LeBron should be more like AD and get a brow

[@lordpaulphilippfernandez9904]

- 300 Durability (Demerit)

[@dddiop]

5:12 - I thought you were going to say "A.D. is basically the best off-ball big man we've seen since Ryan Anderson."

[@ThinkingBasketball]

Underrated comment. :)

[@TheIcemanthomas]

Lol

[@calvin1508]

me too

[@haychhh6809]

Where you been all this time you know we need you now more than ever bro

[@SeriouslyWhofarted]

nomad: wow I shouldn’t thought if that one😂

[@victorespiritu22]

Go outside and work on ur jumper hageed watfa

[@yvans.]

Bro he has a podcast

[@elrichardo5377]

@nomad: 👏

[@kingdinodragonite3470]

@@victorespiritu22 i want to. But the nearest basketball court accessible is 5km away and it's 9ft tall. I don't want to play there and then airball my jumper when playing on a 10ft rim.

[@567bc]

This vid tells me that Lauri Markkanen should never guard Ad again 😂

[@TheUltimateRage]

He just needs to heal up, bulk up some more, and get a much better coach who utilizes his strengths as opposed to squandering them. It sucks because Boylen stems from the Popovich tree, but we never reaped those benefits due to the growing dissent Boylen planted within the locker room upon his arrival, stymieing the Bulls from blossoming into a top-seeded team. We all know Gar-Pax was at the root of it all, but now that they've been weeded out, hopefully this team can germinate into the cream of the crop........

[@ryanmontague3377]

It's probably a lot to ask but I'd love to see some analysis videos on NBA draft prospects. With this year's draft having no clear number 1, I think getting to know 10-15 players would be great

[@yeatdagoat173]

Check out Locked On Fantasy Basketball. He does a really great job in addressing their strengths and weaknesses in a very detailed manner

[@AllanMurmann]

it is a lot of work to do, even tho would be amazing to have this content coming from one of the best basketball channels, it's impossible to do it in the current situation of his channel, the content that you are asking needs more research, time and investment things that right now he will not be able to afford to keep the quality of the videos.

[@ryanmontague3377]

@@yeatdagoat173 Ill definitely be checking that out thanks

[@thie9781]

It would destroy the unique style of the channel and given the relative low upload frequency (no offense I love the vids and know they require a lot of time) it would take months to get all the players.

[@yeatdagoat173]

@@ryanmontague3377 No problem

[@chaoticneutral4729]

6:55 that crossover was so clean

[@veriityx]

That was 🔥🔥

[@haroldng5897]

That pass too... luka is a different breed

[@jaatown23]

Not really. Green just over committed to go around the screen.

[@crablord7934]

@@jaatown23 That's just part of how dangerous Luka is if he goes around that screen.

[@jurisdumagan4138]

Luka Magic

[@waylonmoore5389]

3:50 The delivery of “Poor Javale” has me dying with laughter.

[@link_nukem]

Love your vids could you do one on Dejounte Murray

[@wilsonyang4505]

The wingspan of a plane

[@shaneyy__]

I thought he already did. Maybe it was a smaller segment in a defensive video.

[@Tryhard116677]

Just A Crab yea I remember that one as well

[@DS-ci9pd]

Would really want to know Ben's view on AD's level this season, compared to the 19/20 + bubble season

[@xordus]

The best thing about AD is he's made DEFENSE his mission-statement. Not many guys do that. When you're already one of the best offensive players and you commit to becoming THE BEST defensive player... well... good luck Clippers.

[@lakersyoungcoreareaveragep1639]

Anthony Davis is third all time in PER behind Jordan and Lebron for a single season. Coincidence? I think not

[@yimbaiyoko]

Not for a single season it's career wise which is even more impressive.

[@cyber6sapien]

@@yimbaiyoko Yup.

[@dennisthemenace855]

But nowhere close to being top10 shows you a lot about “numbers”

[@jamalwalker]

Per is an awful stat lol

[@joshurl5651]

one of the most scalable stars in the current NBA

[@JustAJok3r]

Josh Url what do you mean scalable?

[@pearlywhites3025]

@@JustAJok3r it's a concept from Ben's book, thinking basketball. Essentially AD has skills that are valuable on both good teams and bad teams. Isolation scoring is not a very scalable skill because bad teams need offense, so a ball dominant scorer can add a few wins. But on a good team with lots of facilitation, taking the ball away from the rest of the team to score in isolation suddenly becomes a lot less valuable. AD is filled with skills like facilitation that are extremely valuable to a good team. In terms of scalable players, think AD, Steph, LeBron, Giannis. And in terms of players who don't "scale" to high win teams as well, think Carmelo Anthony or Zach LaVine

[@obnoxiouslakerfan]

PsyK Films if his skills are scalable then why did he lose all those years in New Orleans?

[@noahmalonson7347]

@@obnoxiouslakerfan Poor team construction, general difficulty of big men to elevate a team's offense due to not having primary ball-handling duties, mismanaged front office, small/undesirable market for FAs... think of KG in Minnesota

[@RobertSmith-ow5kf]

Noah Malonson I mean Garnett still made a conference final

[@exquisitemeat5845]

I've been starved for more KZbin basketball content, thank you so much! (Loving the pod as well)

[@darraghcorcoran9233]

Hey man love your vids . Would love to see a khris Middleton video he’s been one of the most efficient players in the league this year and was really good down the stretch for Milwaukee this year. Keep up the good work

[@TheLaptopPerson]

Just got done rewatching your other vids since the season was announced to resume. Thanks Ben for the hard work as always!

[@davidf2244]

Ur the first channel so far for which I've decided to enable all notifications. Highest praise I can give rly.

[@skrewler]

Also -- just want to comment, this is easily the best basketball content on KZbin. You actually offer insightful commentary and, unlike other channels, who show us film and tell us whether they're running "horns", "pistol action", etc without any kind of analysis. Often with a clickbait title. Bravo sir.

[@Stocky_The_Demi_God]

This is hands down the best basketball channel on KZbin, and second would be basketball time machine. I watch your videos and then play 2k22 and apply everything I learned here to the game and it actually works. Also when I watch NBA games now I always watch them from your perspective and I love it.

[@mallows9779]

"He has these fluid hips that allow solid agility against these penetrators" Yes there can definitely be no way that will be taken out of context

[@jonathandeshommes5051]

Lmao

[@hectorandem2944]

F. (er... not literally though.)

[@acctsys]

No way at all 😁

[@emrvld1420]

2 words : I love you. Another couple : Your the best in depth analyst on KZbin hands down. & Trust me I seen almost all of them to know this. Keep going brother you expertise will land you somewhere great, def the most subs on this genre of youtube, but also a great career in the future. Your videos will be cemented through time as the best in dept player analysis breakdowns. Don’t stop making videos for us brother, your giving us fans and casual fans a whole new understanding to how great these players truly are. Once again, I love you.

[@emrvld1420]

@@kenanjusic4829 Nothing wrong with telling another man you love them. Get ur head out the gutter

[@i-man872]

@@emrvld1420 lol

[@andrewguan1598]

i love you is 3 words

[@sharifbrown3567]

@@andrewguan1598 shhhh, he's better off learning from this on his own.

[@andrewguan1598]

@@sharifbrown3567 aight

[@curtishardaway3366]

you should have more subs. i watch a ton of channels "like yours" and i gotta say you got my sub in 4 minutes. Great analysis and video editing. and just the right amount of subtle comedy.

[@happypatibanda9265]

Would love to see a brogdon or porzingis breakdown. Also great and entertaining video as always!

[@jimmicrackhead12]

Does porzingass even play anymore?

[@henry7486]

jimmicrackhead12 stfu

[@qwikscopez6619]

Great video as usual, got my bball fix for today, how about that video on Gobert you teased before?

[@cauezimmermann538]

I absolutely love this kind of content. Your channel is amazing!!!

[@porrapan2008]

This is one of the channels in which you can give a +1 without seeing of the video. Great content!

[@themacfarlaneranch3342]

Divincenzo, markedden, lavine and valenconas. Would love to see a breakdown of these dudes

[@lumisuliSime]

yaay, the feeling after listening to thinking basketball podcast all day you notice there is a new video :)

[@willhooke]

AD's use of the Floater game is OP. A power forward using that is really hard to defend :)

[@Antzzz_Manzzz]

I’ve played n coached almost 50 years. Your analysis is dead on. Keep up the good work 👍🏼🙏🏼

[@seeanthonyn]

Ive been watching nearly every game of AD this season. He reminds me so much of KG but with a higher lob threat. His lob catches are truly spectacular

[@Marianeitor7]

He is the most skilled power foward of all time , he can do everything, he only needs more awards and rings

[@realking4918]

Thats the championship fallacy

[@picassojulien899]

Yea I agree his talent is there but he need accolades to show for it. There’s lots of guys who should be top 10 just off talent and skill. Lebron, kd, tmac, grant hill, Paul George Hakeem etc. but awards and rings matter.

[@Thanosdidtherighthing]

ricky king not a fallacy, just the reality

[@wallstreetzoomer]

@@Thanosdidtherighthing Nah, that's why KD joined the Warriors. Because fans rank individual players with something that requires a team to achieve.

[@Thanosdidtherighthing]

LIGHT YAGAMI IS JUSTICE The argument isn’t that you can’t be considered a great player without rings. It’s that rings enhance legacy. You’re right Kd joined the warriors just like Lebron teamed up with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in a weak eastern conference.

[@VGE]

My best NBA player, by far !

[@nc987]

Thank you! Great content as always. Would love to see your thoughts on Porzingis!

[@UeProductionz]

This is Bill Simmon's list for what qualifies as a superstar in the NBA from Book of Basketball podcast and I 100% agree with it: - Sell tickets - Generate interest locally and nationally - Single handedly guarantee an average team 45 - 50 wins - Be the best player on a Finals team if the other pieces are in place My argument to AD has always been the fact that he cannot consistently win games let alone contend for playoff seeding. To me that is just inexcusable when people call him a "superstar". Its one thing to never make it out of the first round like Tracy McGrady but its a whole other thing when you can't even get seeded consistently like Anthony Davis. At least Tmac could get his teams into the playoffs on his own.

[@t4d0W]

Contend for playoff seeding? Dude he was the REASON why the Pelicans were in playoff conversations the past years and why they had a possible shot making it out of the 2nd round. AD in those playoff series turned it up and the obvious lack of talent around him being the culprit as to why they can only peak that much. There is no way a Pelicans squad of old ass Rondo, Jrue and other wack ass role players are winning 40+ games alone in the regular season and be a threat to take games in the playoffs. BTW the only time Tmac got to the 2nd round of the playoffs in Houston, he was INJURED.

[@Conquistador76]

I was lucky enough to see the Lakers Clippers game on March 8th at Staples Center, before the shutdown. When Lebron sat AD took over the offense with his scoring and passing and led the Lakers in points for most of the game. When Lebron came back in AD became more of a post up, lob threat. AD has so much versatility, and he can do pretty much anything the offense requires. This video helped make these points more clear! Great video.

[@dalton7726]

After the 2018 playoffs I said that he was the GOAT lob finisher, no one else can do what he does (but shoutout to his teammate Dwight who was also one of the best ever at that in his prime)

[@sharifbrown3567]

Zion shall also be in contention.

[@Ninjamm07]

Been loving your content for quite sometime now and have devoured the podcast in their entirety. I’d be interested in you doing a series on players who were on the cusp of being great but just couldn’t quite make it due to the varying reasons depending on the player. Keep up the great work.

[@ybeef5883]

this man still has never made a bad video

[@VictorFPoB]

I wish you would make your videos just 30 seconds longer to fit YT's 10 minute algorithm criteria. Your channel deserves more exposure and it'll reduce the amount of "KoBe iS dA bEsT sCoReR oF aLL tiMeZ" types. By the way, not a knock on Kobe. One of my top 5 favourite players ever, it's just an example of an obvious misconception.

[@victorespiritu22]

It’s a shame we share the same name because I can already tell youza dork ass dude

[@VictorFPoB]

@@victorespiritu22 Based on your comment, I'm kind of embarassed we do.

[@ricksanchez8503]

@@VictorFPoBLowkey nice comeback

[@victorespiritu22]

Victor Russ legally change yo shit then, this name for winners 😌

[@VictorFPoB]

@@victorespiritu22 This coming from the dude liking his own comments and who said: "...youza dork ass dude" for no reason.

[@jacobcappello1448]

Can you do a video on brad beal I’d love to see a breakdown of his scoring

[@stephenleavitt1003]

Basketball heaven, seeing a game between the dynasty spurs plus AD, and the dynasty warriors plus Jokic

[@BossKing1243]

Your analysis skills are commendable.

[@abdirahmaanh]

Ben I speak for a lot of here when I say you are one of the most awsome things in basketball both your videos ans podcast. Speeaaking of your podcast. You have done two episode one the greatest power forwards of all time (which I highly recommend). The first one waa on KG and tim Duncan and the second on Barkley, Malone and Dirk. Now you have done one on AD i curious in which group you would put him based on his past present and possibly his future. Maybe you could also ad Giannis considering he has had his hest seasons at this position. Heck it could be awhole podcast comparing them and projecting them.

[@Antzzz_Manzzz]

Ab H what’s Ben Podcast? So I can check it out

[@GANGLYMAN117]

@@Antzzz_Manzzz its linked in the description

[@jesse9200]

Thank you! Ive been sayin he is in the discussion for best player in the league for years. When hes healthy of course.

[@mve5758]

Your analyses are on a much higher level than most KZbinrs and tv analysts. Hardly ever seen anyone pick up on that offball spin which is one of his best offensive weapons.

[@vedanguniyal8705]

Bro I stg I get so happy when thinking basketball posts :)

[@jamilabanto2680]

I love your vids! Can you do a discussion on the Hornets? Like PJ or Cody Zeller or Graham VS Rozier III as the starting PG

[@BRBallin1]

He’s highly underrated from the FT line too

[@emmanuelgadalla4303]

Can u do a video on Caris Levert? Rlly feel like he's one of the most underrated players in the league

[@t-mofisher8922]

Huh. It’s funny because i was watching the Pels sweep against the Blazers again and i was just hyper aware of how hard the lobs he has catching were- he had 2 or 3 lobs like at 1:15 where he just avoided the defense while keeping momentum by jumping with his chest perpendicular to the backboard. He does it a lot and it’s really good.

[@benvigars1349]

You said give me 9 minutes and I was very sceptical but you conviced me.

[@emeraldcitycs6662]

Whew that intro was heat

[@justtimes9257]

Great great great video but I do have one thing what is your definition of a superstar because to me a superstar is a player who can lead his team to the championship as the leader/Best player

[@samuelj5144]

Great vid! What software do you use to plot the stats?

[@t-god2439]

Is underrated bc well bc I think he’s hella skilled but as the main guy on his team he hasn’t done much you mentioned KG KG as the main guy on his team won and MVP and also went to the western conference finals the first tome he had some legit help on his team

[@milto2269]

Anyone who's intimate with Ben's work got chills when he compared KG with AD.

[@timothyruto6409]

Best basketball breakdown channel

[@-fridge]

Best basketball yt channel no doubt

[@MrDoToMuch12]

A player profile on Jonathan Issacc would be great but of course its your channel and whatever you do next will be great im sure

[@minhvu1184]

Me: Sees Thinking Basketball in my KZbin homepage. Also me: Immediately clicks on video.

[@douiememento]

Dude's a beast! Miss him seeing in NOLA jersey, Hope he could get a ring with the Lakers & win awards

[@gabbadrianfresnidoafable7064]

Great Vid! Can you do a 2019-2020 Jayson Tatum analysis?

[@SexBoyHumper]

Bro you need to be making more videos man, we need your analysis

[@martinhuang1750]

I think another big reason people don't talk about AD on MVP candidate is that AD is playing alongside LeBron James, but that is the sacrifice AD has to endure through the journey. You also missed one aspect on AD, that he is super clutch.

[@jamesconnolly9415]

Love your videos. Could you please do Bam Adebayo, Caris LeVert or Dejounte Murray?

[@joetheGod13]

Looks like I’ve found a new go to channel to watch while at work. Keep it up man

[@im_waffles2920]

Players you should do a breakdown on: Joel Embiid Magic Johnson Kemba Walker Al Horford and why he doesn't fit with the 76ers Kristaps Porzingis Jamal Crawford Bam Adebayo

[@light687]

He should definitely do Bam

[@BeastNoscopePro]

He has one on embiid, should check it out

[@im_waffles2920]

@@BeastNoscopePro didn't know, I haven't been around his channel for long.

[@lucassipe9448]

Thanks for the content. I have a question about pace: is there any correlation between pace and injury? Or even fatigue? Is it likely that teams that run more and more likely to garner injuries than a team that does not?

[@Conquistador76]

I think it was 2 years ago, when everything one was getting injured. Bigs especially (porzingis, cousins). I’m wondering the same thing. If running more post up plays will help slow the pace and improve overall health. I just don’t think 7’ers are built to run at that speed for that length of time. Just my opinion

[@ninjachannel007]

This guy's analysis is somehow very deep and very simple at once.

[@aids2132]

Would love if you did a video on Kemba

[@emanueleferrero8095]

Hey man! I have some questions! After this season do you still think that morant won’t be an all star? And do you think booker will leave Phoenix for Minnesota or another location?

[@deemoallday]

Lakers defense is good this year because of captain AD with his quick feet. Completely Made a big difference on defense on the lakers this year. To all the haters saying AD will get injured, AD is playing with lebron and he doesn’t have to work too hard like in New Orleans, he will be ready for the playoffs.

[@unbiasedpoet]

How are you coming up with what's barely passable outside shooting efficiency for a big man to provide adequate spacing?

[@michaeldixon6035]

Thinking basketball video dropped gotta drop everything folks

[@mrb6001]

One of the most frustrating and talented players I’ve ever watched , hope he has a healthy run

[@jdawg9016]

You should do a Bam Adebayo breakdown

[@xcvsumextra]

3:16 the handles omg

[@cnl1213]

"Rarefied air" is what I was thinking before the term is used @7:25. I mean who else has this combination of height, length, hops and reflexes esp on D. May be a young Dwight? Giannis? May be Bam as a distant third?

[@Liutkusss]

I'd love to see a video on Sabonis (the current one :D)

[@matthewgonzalez7880]

i could listen to this guy talk all day

[@theOnyFUFU]

I love the KG (aka "maroon forefather") comp! Even though that's clearly the best comparison for AD, I haven't seen it made very often. He's definitely a more offensively gifted but much less intense version of KG.

[@Thanosdidtherighthing]

Honestly they play very very similar. Ad just take the 3’s that Kg would’ve taken if he played in today’s era. Kg was a better low post player and defensively while AD has a better touch.

[@s0ngf0rx]

AD is just so so good and so many different things. So fun to watch.

[@kb4231]

I love that you use stats only to backup what you see on film.

[@AceMacaveli]

More player analysis please!

[@sethrawlings6237]

I’d love to see a video on Sabonis!

[@bertogenosis8274]

Love all the content but i miss the old background music lol

[@kevintafili5221]

Hello, can you make an analysis on how underrated (or not) Steven Adams is please?

[@kingrambo519]

I think AD will be one of those players that go under appreciated because people expected so much more from him even though he’s had a HOF career already

[@benweider2658]

Could you do a video on the best passers in the league

[@bigjax731]

Great video

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

2:00 Okay, helpless is too much. I know at first glance this is what everyone, myself included, thinks when you see this for the first time but it MUST have ways to disrupt this or make unconfortable. Either by bothering his loading, jump, arm movement, or keeping distance to load up, jump and touch the ball deflecting it's route, or targeting the passer and making the ball harder to come to him in first place. You can also use the rules to your advantage etc.

[@tjuannepitchford3943]

I agree 100%

[@christophergareth1933]

I wish this man had a top 10 list

[@myichadrakeford1370]

How did you add the videos?? While talking?

[@empathytrail4758]

Thinking Basketball: GOAT Lob Finisher NBA 2K: Gets Rim Checked on Open Break Lobs

[@alejandropreciado1814]

You deserve sponsorship!

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

0:55 The height of this is crazy, his hips went waaay over his head and Gobert is HUGE.

[@nithilanamudhan6260]

AD is the most complete power forward. Can score, rebound and also strech the floor. Also his ball handling and passing are underrated