We have all heard and read the stories about how LeBron James will take a step back or play less minutes. Remember, the beginning of last season, when LeBron was supposed to be on a minutes restriction? That lasted all of two games and then he was back to playing the normal LeBron like minutes.

This year, may be the season where the change to Anthony Davis being the “lead dog” finally happens. It has only been two games but the Los Angeles Lakers look committed to running the offense through the former Kentucky Wildcat.

In game one of the season, the Lakers took on the Minnesota Timberwolves and won the game, 110-103. Davis ended the game with 36 points, 16 rebounds, and three blocks. He shot 11/23 from the floor and 13/15 from the free throw line.

LeBron James finished the game with 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists. The damn near 40-year old, shot 7/16 from the floor.

In the second game of the season, the Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns, 123-116. Davis was big again as he scored 35 points on 11/18 shooting from the floor and 13/17 from the free throw line. James scored 21 points on 7/13 from the floor.

Anthony Davis has shot a total of 32 free throws in the first two games, which really points to his aggressiveness to start the season. When Davis is this assertive, most teams don’t have anyone who can slow him down. There is only one Giannis Antetokounmpo walking around and even he has trouble slowing Davis down.

Last season, Davis averaged 6.8 free throw attempts per game and shot 81% from the charity strike. If he can be consistent with his assertiveness and average 12 free throw attempts per game, Davis may increase his points per game from 24 to 30 or more.

Most Valuable?

Anthony Davis has only finished top five in Most Valuable Player voting once in his career. This was in the 2017-2018 season, where he led the Pelicans to 48 wins. He finished the season with averages of 28.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and a league leading 2.6 blocks per game.

He is showing glimpses of that type of dominance this season. We all know how impactful he is on the defensive end of the floor. When Davis combines that with being a stud number one option, offensively, there is no limit to how great he can be.

In that, 2017-2018 season, Davis averaged 19.5 shot attempts per game and made 53% of them. So far, this season, Davis is shooting the ball 20.5 times per game and making 53% of those shots.

In 2017-2018, he averaged 11.1 rebounds per game, so far this season, he is averaging 12 rebounds per game.

In that magical season in New Orleans, Davis led the league in blocks per game at 2.6, so far this season he is averaging 2.5 blocks per game.

Now, that season where he finished top five in MVP voting, Davis played 75 games. If, he can play at least 70 games and continue this level of production. The Lakers may shock the NBA world and finish the season with a top six seed in the western conference. This will be the recipe to Anthony Davis being a legit MVP candidate.