Anthony Davis: Lakers' odds of winning NBA title 'higher' after prolonged hiatus
Los Angeles Lakers superstar Anthony Davis expects his side to pick up right where it left off when the NBA's 22-team model to crown a 2019-20 champion begins on July 30 with a Lakers-Los Angeles Clippers showdown on opening night.
The Lakers sat atop the Western Conference with a 49-14 record and were winners of 11 of their previous 13 games when the Association shut down on March 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite lost momentum, Davis believes the Lakers have an even better chance to win the championship than if the postseason started in mid-April:
"Actually, I think our chances are higher just because we're all rested and we're all ready to go," Davis told ESPN's Dave McMenamin after thinking about the subject for roughly 20 seconds. "If anything, our chances got higher, and it's going to be about just who wants it more."
McMenamin added that Davis, one-half of arguably the league's top duo alongside three-time champion LeBron James, said he is 100 percent healthy and recovered from physical ailments that come toward the end of any grueling season.
Davis began the league's unplanned break leading the Lakers in scoring (26.7 PPG), rebounding (9.4 REB), blocks (2.4 BLK), steals (1.5 STL) and player efficiency rating (28.25).
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