There are a lot of things you can point to on Anthony Davis’s game-winning three-pointer that defeated the Denver Nuggets and gave the Los Angles Lakers a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals.
There was the play design, the fact that Davis was in perfect position and readiness to bury it and one heck of a pass from Rajon Rondo.
But, as just about everyone on Twitter has noticed, there was also a not-so-great defensive play by the Nuggets’ Mason Plumlee.
Instead of staying right on Davis as he curled to the three-point line, he ran right into LeBron James and Jerami Grant, who were locked up near Davis.
Not good.
What exactly is Plumee doing???? pic.twitter.com/LcdkiPKmI9
— Marcus Thompson (@ThompsonScribe) September 21, 2020
for those of you wondering “what the hell was Mason Plumlee doing?” , here is the iso cam of Jerami Grant calling Plumlee’s name/attention to help with LeBron, as needed, before the play began. pic.twitter.com/iczft57Q3T
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) September 21, 2020
What a moment for Anthony Davis. Awful breakdown by Plumlee on the last play. Give me more AD vs Joker in crunch time please, what a delight
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) September 21, 2020
It appeared that maybe Plumlee called for Grant to switch? It’s very confusing.
You can’t call for a switch on a screen that isn’t *actually* happening. That was great design. Anthony Davis was coming off LeBron. LeBron never gave any indication so of course Jerami Grant is denying LeBron James. He had no clue. Plumlee ran into a non screen.
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) September 21, 2020
Maybe the worst defense in the history of last-second plays by Plumlee.
He ran into a non-existent screen, called for a switch to someone who didn’t exist and left Anthony Davis wide open pic.twitter.com/zifTXEU3K2
— B. W. Carlin (@BaileyCarlin) September 21, 2020
Shaq’s first words on @NBAonTNT:
“Plumlee, what are you doing? What you doing Plumlee???”
— nick wright (@getnickwright) September 21, 2020
Plumlee didn't even have a screener take him off of AD, he rerouted to run behind LeBron for no reason lmao. that was probably the dumbest defensive mistake I've ever seen to lose a game.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) September 21, 2020
Again: lots of factors with that Davis shot, but Plumlee was a huge reason Davis had a much cleaner look.
