Davis, with his MVP version, is the Lakers’ linchpin

The loathsome Lakers, that disappointing team that navigated the waters of uncertainty in early November, have disappeared. It has been, almost without realizing it, Frank Kafka’s metamorphosis in reverse: from nasty caterpillar to butterfly. From deep darkness to unexpected clarity.

And that change, that rebirth, that rising from the ashes, is due neither to the leadership of LeBron James nor the conditioning of Russell Westbrook. This is Anthony Davis’ team, Darvin Ham’s phoenix.

What has happened in Hollywood is fascinating. Like a good movie script, the beginning was slow, dull, but the knot had a twist that was as unexpected as it was healthy to please viewers. What looked like a horror film became a thrilling and moving drama of overcoming.

Where were the back injuries and knee pains? Davis was back to being The Brow that knew how to dominate the NBA in his golden years. A dip in the fountain of youth to recover sensations and relive successes. The Lakers are still behind .500, but have eight wins in their last 12 games.

There’s one fact I love about Davis, courtesy of ESPN’s stats department: his 99 points scored in his last two games (against the Bucks and Wizards, respectively) are the most by a Lakers player since 2007, when Kobe Bryant did it. And Kobe was also the last of any team before Davis to convert 40 shots from the field in two straight games.

La Ceja is at MVP level right now, and we’re not exaggerating. In fact, that’s how LeBron saw it after the win at Capital One Arena against the Wizards. “He’s been unbelievable,” he said. “On both ends of the court. I mean, he’s playing like the league’s Most Valuable Player. He’s dominating in continuity.”

There’s an answer to the level Davis is showing. And it has to do with health. The back pain he’d been carrying since the 2021-22 regular series was treated and overcome in the offseason. After that it was all confidence and fine-tuning.

Still, his numbers are surprising to all and sundry. It’s not normal to shoot 70% from the field in his last few games. In fact, it is so extraordinary that only three times in the history of the League has a player scored at least 95 points with 70% efficiency in two consecutive games.

Today, La Ceja averages 35.3 points with 64.8% from the field, 45.5% in three-pointers and 88% in free throws. Oh, he’s also grabbing 15.6 rebounds and making 2.9 blocks a night. Is this an unexpected homage to Wilt Chamberlain? Well, a little, because Wilt had only 114 games of 50 points and 15 rebounds. Sluggish 100 man in a game.

Of course, Davis’ superlative level comes with the Lakers’ growth as a group. The points drain brought by the ex-Pelicans inside player allowed the game to flow much more. And the numbers are different. In the last ten full games he played, Los Angeles went from scoring 108.3 units per game to 122.8.

Also unnoticed, because of Davis’ performance against the Wizards, were LeBron’s 29 points and the 15 assists of the always-criticized Westbrook. Those 15 Brodie assists, ESPN Stats points out to us, are the most by a Lakers substitute since Michael Cooper did it in 1985. I’ll help them out: it’s been 37 years since then.

“Winning a championship,” Davis said when asked about the MVP award. “If you focus on winning a championship, the rest will come on its own. That was always my thinking, to put the team above any individual award or recognition,” he completed.

The Lakers are redefining themselves as a team. And they are getting better. But we must say it all: they are still far from being a championship team and on the ladder to success they must go rung by rung. First to get into the playoffs, then to the playoffs and finally to see if they have enough gas in the reserve tank to fight for everything. It is still too early to tell.

What is certain is that although this team has in LeBron James its natural leader, it will go as far as Anthony Davis allows.

Expectation or reality? A new script began to be written in Los Angeles. And soon, very soon, we will have better answers.