The greatest NBA storyline right now is the concussion assessment of Anthony Davis
In the fourth quarter of Game 5 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, Anthony Davis was forced to leave after getting elbowed in the head by Kevon Looney. Davis left the court looking shaky and didn’t come back. In order to advance in the series and force a Game 6 in Los Angeles, the Warriors defeated the Lakers, 121-106, in Game 5.
Although Davis’s health is currently the greatest news in the league, the Lakers still own a 3-2 series lead. Davis walked out of the arena on his own, despite being wheeled to the locker room. After the game, the Lakers felt that Davis had avoided a concussion, but it is not their call to make.
The following processes for Davis were described by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst as physicians assess whether he has to enter concussion protocol. According to Windhorst, if Davis enters the concussion protocol, he would definitely miss Game 6 and is extremely likely to miss Game 7.
“He will continue to be evaluated (Thursday) to see if he develops symptoms,” added Windhorst. It’s not always how he feels, though. They put him through a battery of tests to gauge his reaction time and compare the results to tests he took before the concussion.
It doesn’t matter how he’s feeling or whether he can play through the symptoms if he needs to enter concussion protocol, according to Windhorst. It takes time to follow the preset list of return to play rules.
Prior to Game 6, the Lakers must release an injury report on Thursday. If Davis is not listed on the injury report, he will probably start the game on Friday night in Los Angeles. If it turns out that AD had to join the concussion protocol, he may not be able to see the remaining games in the series. Without him, can the Lakers win a game?
The success of this series may actually depend on AD’s availability.
The story will be updated as it progresses.
