For all we know, LeBron James could have been right.
After all, he is closer and more within than one. Maybe the Los Angeles Lakers have court issues and that’s why they played like hot garbage during the NBA’s Orlando Bubble restart.
Yet it is hard not to think that LeBron completed his mission when he opened up to a reporter the other day about the lack of rhythm on offense. The goal? His own team.
“It’s just some things you can not control, that’s here, that I really do not want to talk about, that’s from the court,” James said. Enter a reason that many star players over the years have chosen not to play with James when they get a chance in free agency. None greater than Kawhi Leonard. He would have been on easy street when he came across James and Anthony Davis.
Instead, Leonard chose the Los Angeles Clippers who NEVER won jack.
It made no sense to some. For others, it was obvious.
While some consider James to be the GOAT, no one else gets credit if he wins. But his teammates usually end up the scapegoats when he loses. And James has lost more finals sets than any MVP in the NBA history of regular seasons. James is an unimpressive 3-6 in the Finals.
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James, 35, has a great chance of winning a championship this season. If the Lakers do not win, remember this nugget that LeBron planted. Many of his minions will do this back as the reason why, and not place it on LeBron.
Without explaining what the Lakers are hurting, people can only guess what James is talking about. Worse, reporters and analysts can formulate their own theories as to why life at Disney has not been magical for LeBron and his squad.
On Saturday, James and the Lakers lost to the Indiana Pacers, 116-111. The Lakers have now lost four of their six games since the NBA was brought back after being stopped by the pandemic. And most of the losses have been ugly, including those for the Thunder and Rockets.
The Lakers hit just 25 percent of three, worst in this throughput and just 41 percent from the field, even at the bottom of the bubble, as their average point total of 100.4.
The fights have created some surprise as the Lakers will have enough to win a championship, despite James and Davis leading the way. Yet this is an early revelation coming from James. The bubble, which ‘so far’ could keep rona ‘and the players so far without disease, was the perfect place for a team to bond and focus solely on basketball.
There are only a few distractions from outside – not even from a player’s family, who will not be able to attend after the first round of the playoffs.
Yet James is bellyaching about his teammates.
Funny, because a few days ago, LeBron celebrated the Lakers’ No. 1 seed at the Western Conference. That night, the Lakers looked good to go. Davis scored 42 points and added 12 rebounds in the eight-point victory over the Utah Jazz.
Sure, he slapped his chest over the finish. Keep in mind that the Lakers failed to make the playoffs with James last season.
Let’s face it, this is James’ best last chance to win a title in his career. Finally this year is 17. No one knows when his talent will drop, but chances are it will come sooner rather than later. Plus, there are a lot of good teams that will be in the championship mix for the coming seasons. The Clippers will be together for a few years. The Nets will be a threat with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving back in the fold after injuries. Same for the Warriors. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson should get the Warriors back into controversy next season as they both return healthy after the game.
Currently, the Lakers are 2-1 odds in Vegas to win the championship. Both the Clippers and Bucks are 3-1. Most sports writers choose the latter two to meet in the Finals.
And in case you did not hear LeBron loud and clear. He also said he is not the biggest fan of the setup in the bubble until the court. “You really have to love basketball to be here,” James told reporters. ‘Because there is no extra motivation, you know, to the extent that you get it as the excitement of the club and things of that nature. You have to really love the game and love the work and be able to embody on your craft and that is something I actually love. “
Maybe it’s his teammates who don’t feel the same way. A perfect excuse.
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