Anthony Davis was pulled from action after the first half after the Nuggets and aggravating the tendon Oh sis in his right Achilles.

He will now undergo an M r I today that, according to a source telling our agent, Ward Janowski, the big man missing two games earlier this week for the same issue with his right Achilles and the Lakers, they did go on to fall 1 22 to 105 to the Nuggets.

So, Stephen Night, let's start with you here.

What was your first reaction after hearing about eighties injury?

My first reaction after hearing about Anthony Davis aggravating his right Achilles is that the Brooklyn Nets gonna win the NBA championship.

That's the first reaction that I had Max Kellerman.

My reaction is that it's the Lakers, as far as I'm concerned, are the only team standing in the way off Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irvin and James Harden winning the chip.

And obviously I've dismissed the, uh, the Eastern Conference and I don't mean any disrespect.

Philadelphia is vastly improved.

Milwaukee is not a team to ignore.

I get all of that.

But the bottom line is I'm looking at James Harden right now.

The brothers averaging 23 11 and eight on 48% shooting 38% from three point range.

I don't need to get into Kevin Durant's number.

It's at 29%.

I'm worried about his hamstring strain or whatever.

Keep an eye on that.

But a zoo long as he's healthy, I'm looking at along those lines, and Kyrie Irving is just playing like the superstar talent that he is.

He is putting on a show night in and night out.

Now, when he takes a hiatus or whatever, you get worried because that could be distraction.

We understand that.

But when this brother is on the court, he is something spectacular to behold that the number one offense in the N B A.

They're absolutely, positively unstoppable, and it's going to take an elite team on both ends of the floor to knock them off.

We've got elite defensive teams in the NBA.

We've got elite offensive teams in the MBA, what we don't have outside of the Lakers in our mind due to LeBron James, What we don't have is a team that has both other than the Lakers, that's how we view them.

And so when I look at Anthony Davis, LeBron is is sensational.

Is he's been particularly from three point range.

That was before February, the month of February.

He shoot like 28% from three point range, so it's dipped a little bit.

Obviously, he's not doing what he's been doing for the first month and a half of the season from three point range, But I still look at it, and I say LeBron will be just fine.

He'll be there when it counts, but he needs a D.

And without a D, the Lakers have no chance off winning the championship.

And if the Lakers have no chance, then who the hell is going to be Brooklyn?

That answer is absolutely, positively No.

One.

And so when I heard about Anthony Davis and I thought I saw that Achilles, that Achilles strain and I don't think Max he should be playing for the next month, I think he should be out at least a month.

Don't even play with it.

Let him sit down, all starving on nothing he don't.

He doesn't need to be playing for at least another month, and these guys need to get away from wearing them.

Damn low top sneakers were some high top sneakers, for crying out loud.

That might help you a little bit to go old school.

Stop doing this stuff.

How about put up the boots?

But where?

Boots, for crying out loud, do something.

But in the end, the first thought that came to my mind is the Brooklyn Nets are going to win the N B A championship.

If Anthony Davis can't go, that's not where my mind went.

My mind went right to the Western Conference.

First of all, let me just address your next point.

The fact that Kyrie approaches James Harden and says, You're the point guard I'm off guard is exactly right.

It's self serving, in a way because Kyrie gets to shoot more.

But the reason hardens better than Kyrie really is because he has better judgment with the ball.

His judgments better than Kyrie, is a more mature player.

But in terms of just spectacular skills, Kyrie is even better than harden.

I mean, in terms of scoring the ball.

I know Harden's an amazing score, but this is the best allocation of their resource is hardens taller So you think of a more is a two guard Kyrie shorter, But in fact, Kyrie got that right eye.

And so I think they're gonna benefit from that kind of understanding of roles.

I think what we saw from DeAndre Jordan last week was important because if he could be the defensive player in the paint and they have to play five out, they could play four out with Joe Harris and the and the Big three, they don't need to play.

They don't need to play Jeff Green at the five.

If DeAndre Jordan could be that guy toe, secure those defense of boards the Nets could get out of the East.

What's even a?

That's not necessarily situation we have right now with the Nets were hoping that they can get there right now.

They're being out that they're being.

They're giving up more points than is possible to get to the finals.

Let me say why my mind goes to the Western Conference.

If the Lakers don't have a D and I agree with you, take a nice long rest till it is better.

If the Lakers don't have a D, they not only have to contend with Denver, who got playoff experience last year and just smoke them without a D.

The Denver team that came back on the Clippers that wasn't ready for the Lakers last year.

They're not getting bad at Denver team without a obviously thanks for watching ESPN on YouTube for live streaming sports and premium content.

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