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Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to his dunk during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to his dunk during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) shoots during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Houston Rockets Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Houston Rockets’ Austin Rivers (25) grabs a rebound in front of Los Angeles Lakers’ Rajon Rondo (9) during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, left, tries to block a shot by Houston Rockets’ James Harden (13) during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni, center, and James Harden (13) question a call during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Houston Rockets Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) questions a call during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Houston Rockets Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Houston Rockets’ Russell Westbrook dunks over Los Angeles Lakers’ Danny Green during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, right, shoots over Houston Rockets’ James Harden (13) during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James is fouled by Houston Rockets’ Ben McLemore, right, during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Houston Rockets’ Russell Westbrook (0) drives around Los Angeles Lakers’ Rajon Rondo during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Danny Green #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James reacts after being called for a foul during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Houston Rockets Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Houston Rockets’ James Harden (13) passes over Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) and Rajon Rondo during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Houston Rockets’ Russell Westbrook (0) drives around Los Angeles Lakers’ Markieff Morris, right, during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ Rajon Rondo (9) passes in front of Houston Rockets’ Eric Gordon (10) during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Houston Rockets’ Jeff Green (32) drives to the basket ahead of Los Angeles Lakers’ Markieff Morris (88) during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ Rajon Rondo drives to the basket ahead of Houston Rockets’ Russell Westbrook (0) during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to his dunk during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) drives around Houston Rockets’ Ben McLemore (16) during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket over Eric Gordon #10 of the Houston Rockets during the first quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives the ball against James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during the first quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives the ball against James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during the first quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers and Assistant coach Jason Kidd during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — In all the defensive schemes the Lakers have hatched this season, in all their looks and gimmicks, Anthony Davis has been at the heart of them.
On some nights, he was the Lakers’ most physical shot blocker and rebounder. On others, he was among their best perimeter defenders, thrown onto guards and staying with them despite his 6-foot-10 size. Some nights, he was both.
So it was no surprise, to the Lakers or anyone else in the NBA, when he was named Tuesday to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team, the second time in his career he’s gotten that nod. Davis was the league’s third-leading shot blocker (2.3 bpg), and also averaged 1.5 steals per game.
The team has widely called him the tone-setter for the Lakers defense, which finished fifth in defensive rating (106.6) during the regular season. The Lakers also noted that Davis finished first in the NBA in loose balls recovered (108).
The Lakers had stumped for Davis for Defensive Player of the Year, and he was one of the finalists alongside eventual winner Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Coach Frank Vogel said within their own locker room, Davis is seen as the most valuable defensive tool in the league.
“Obviously the less you have to double in this league the better your defense is gonna be,” Vogel said. “The more you have switchable flexibility the better your defense is gonna be. The more you have rim protection the better your defense is gonna be, and Anthony brings all of those to the table.”
Davis has been on three All-Defensive teams before, and his prior first team appearance was for the 2017-18 season. It’s the first time a Laker has been on the first team since 2011, when Kobe Bryant made the last of his nine appearances.
Limited coach and staff guests permitted
After several coaches, most notably Denver’s Mike Malone, spoke out about the discrepancy of players being allowed to invite guests to the bubble and coaches being unable to invite anyone, the NBA sent out a memo to teams announcing a new staff and coach guest policy.
The catch is only 10 guests will be allowed per team.
Teams must decide which guests will be attending by Wednesday, after which point they will begin self-quarantining and testing and can begin to arrive for on-campus quarantine at Disney World on Sept. 14. The NBA will also set up a later Sept. 22 entry date.
The Lakers did not thoroughly discuss the memo, much less who would be going, on Tuesday, concentrating on preparing for Game 3. Decisions will be difficult given that coaches and staff account for half of the team’s 37-member travel parties, and that all hotel rates, including rooms, testing and food, will be paid out of pocket.
>> GAME STORY: LeBron James and Lakers force their way past Rockets, take series lead <<
Health updates
JaVale McGee re-entered the starting lineup on Tuesday night after turning his left ankle in Game 2, as an MRI revealed no serious damage. Vogel said McGee would not have a minutes restriction.
But Dion Waiters was not so lucky. The Lakers ruled him out of the game after evaluating his strained left groin. Vogel said the medical team would continue to monitor the injury day-to-day.
The Rockets played without Danuel House, who was not in attendance for personal reasons along with Tyson Chandler. Only House plays in the Rockets’ rotation. Coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters the absences were not related to COVID-19, and the Houston Chronicle reported that the two players remained in the bubble.
Lakers’ Anthony Davis lands on NBA All-Defensive first team posted first on https://anaheimsignsorangecounty.blogspot.com
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