LeBron James, Austin Reaves praise Anthony Davis’ rebounding in Game 4

Make no mistake about it: Anthony Davis’ play, particularly on the boards, was a major factor in the Lakers’ Game 4 win over the Nuggets.

Anthony Davis has had to endure fans and the national media taking shots at him for years. Time and again, he has been accused of being soft, brittle, lazy and unmotivated.

So far in the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round playoff series versus the Denver Nuggets, he has put up tremendous numbers. However, he has faded down the stretch, mostly because his teammates haven’t found a way to get him the ball in his sweet spots.

In Game 4, with the Lakers facing the possibility of getting swept, Davis scored 25 points. Although he only put up two points in the fourth quarter, he found another way to keep putting his signature on the game.

He gobbled up 23 rebounds, allowing L.A. to outrebound the Nuggets for the first time in seemingly forever. It was a major factor in the team’s 119-108 victory that snapped its 11-game losing streak to the defending NBA champs.

Austin Reaves said afterward Davis pretty much led by example with his work on the boards.

LeBron James echoed the same sentiment while reminding everyone that Davis is one of the best big men in basketball.

While Davis can be counted on to eat up the glass on a consistent basis, the Lakers will need to find a way to allow him to produce points late in games if they are to have any chance of making this series competitive.

But his tendency to eat up the glass on a consistent basis is a big reason they’re still alive rather than planning their summer vacations right now.