JJ Redick likes Anthony Davis shooting 3-pointers for the Lakers

In Anthony Davis' final preseason game against the Phoenix Suns, he was, in a word, great.

The Lakers great grabbed 10 rebounds and scored 35 points in the 34 minutes he played.

What made his offensive performance most impressive was his three-point shooting. He pressured people in the zone, hit the mid-range floater and from beyond the arc Davis took a 4-9 lead.

Davis' ability to shoot from deep has been the talk of the town since the 2020 title season, when he served as a sharpshooter from 3-point range and converted 39% of his shots in the postseason.

With Lakers coach JJ Redick wanting everyone to shoot more threes, AD is no exception.

After the win, Redick spoke postgame about Davis' willingness to attack from distance.

“He’s confident,” Redick said. “It's the preparedness that's exciting right now… We'll find that balance. He will find that balance. He has to be ready. That's the most important thing. The way I thought up the first play of the game was for him to shoot a three and he knocks it down.

“Whether that’s confidence or relief, he was ready to shoot tonight and we want him to be ready to shoot. That doesn't mean he has to take nine three-pointers per game. I don't think that's realistic. But he has to sprinkle it in there.”

AD didn't just hit a 3-pointer to start the Lakers' game against the Suns. He scored the first eight Lakers points, part of his 15-point opening quarter, making four 3-pointers in the first quarter.

The 3-point shooting stopped for AD after that first quarter, leaving only two attempts the rest of the game, but the damage was done.

He made his shots, opened up the floor and used that confidence to attack the rim and take advantage of his size against the Suns in the paint.

Thanks to Dalton Knecht's takeover in the fourth quarter and overtime, AD's game became a bit forgotten, but in the long run it's the biggest deal.

If Redick can get AD to continue to improve his 3-point shooting, that will create the best version of AD and improve his game, along with the Lakers' chances of moving up the Western Conference hierarchy.

Redick's theory is that AD can do this if he takes the necessary measures to make it possible.

He has more than tripled his 3-point attempts, from 1.4 last year to 4.3 this preseason. Now AD just needs to keep that aggressiveness going when the regular season begins on October 22 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.