LeBron James today: 18/5/5, 61% TS, +13
A good game by LeBron vs Rockets. Lakers extend their winning streak
https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401810844/lakers-rockets
Outplayed KD as a 3rd option lmao
KD gonna downvote this when he see it
KD should focus on his lotion career.
Current KD is a 2nd/3rd option masquerading as a 1st option honestly
He still puts up excellent PPG and TS% for a season which masks it but as far as driving team offense his handle has gotten so bad that he’s a disaster as a primary initiator
Look at all of his playoff runs since 2022 if you want to actually be a contender he can’t be the main guy you’re relying on
the GSW run showed he’s at his most useful when someone else or several other players can play the role of #1. he’s never had an easier time playing basketball than with Klay, Draymond and more specifically, Curry, by his side (obviously applies to most players).
the only time he was convincingly a 1st option was during the BKN era, which was unfortunately short lived
Curry alone dragging three defenders while all KD has to do is not miss
Yeah that GSW motion offense plus Curry and Klay gravity was a cheat code.
His entire career he’s had a future or current all time great ball handler next to him, except now
KD averaged more TOs than assists his first five seasons with OKC as well.
His defensive effort has basically elevated the whole team defense too. I don’t think he puts this effort if he is thinking of going to the Cavs.
Even if he wants to go to the Cavs, what is he going to do, not try winning another chip on the playoff team he’s already on?
I think he just took the “lakers are better without LeBron” to heart and is trying harder now. I think he’s done with the organization and they are done with him
Yea it’s sad. He’s prob offended at how ownership treated him. But that’s the Buss’ for you. Ever since Dr passed they’ve been a shit show. Maybe Mark Walter rights the ship. But only way I see him coming back is if they make a deep playoff run.
They’ll replace the personnel with people who previously worked for the Dodgers, but their biggest test will be managing the team under the NBA’s CBA rules. They can’t just offer money like they can with the Dodgers as the NBA has stricter cap rules.
which doesn’t really make sense
lebron luka and reaves are like +12 since january 1st
For maybe the first time maybe since the heatles he has two elite scorers. He can fully lock in on defense.
The +13 is the insane defensive energy he brought. I haven’t seen LeBron try like this in a while; I feel like he thinks this team may have a shot. He’s been yelling at Rui for rotations, taking charges and grinding in the paint getting smacked
One underrated thing about Bron is the communication, he’s constantly talking on defense
Especially if they hold the 3rd seed. Don’t face the Thunder until potentially WCF, and who knows what can happen in the playoffs until then. They look great now, and the injury bug is gone at the right time
No disrespect to Wemby and the Spurs, but if LA had to pick between them and OKC, I think they’d try their luck in San Antonio. So yeah, that 3 seed is clutch if we can keep it.
They would have a real chance if the team had a defensive anchor. Ayton isn’t a bad player but he’s not what they need. They have a punchers chance that is inherently present with that level of top-end talent.
I think if they can get the ayton that was playing good D on Jokic the other night, for the entirety of the playoffs they have a real shot.
That was quality on-ball defence but there’s a lot more to being a defensive anchor. Ayton just isn’t committed or capable enough to do the right things off ball consistently.
LeDraymond makes an appearance. Imagine LeBron does 80% of what Draymond did in 2022.
A man can dream
Healthy and rested LeBron is a darkhorse WCF MVP and/or FMVP. I said what I said.
Solid D on KD too
objectively better than reaves today too. can’t believe the ‘3rd option lebron’ narrative is still being pushed. they are 2A & 2B, and it’s been that way for the entire year
Nah lebron is def the 3rd option and thats completely fine. Lebron gets most of his points off ball nowadays.
Yeah the effort he could put to like average say 24 is all going to defense and this team absolutely needs that and has been thriving lately cause of it
And it looks like he is okay with it. You can see it in his body language, then just impacts the game in bursts, helps that they are playing team defense better. Finally in the backseat.
I feel like LeBron needs to play more as a big wing, rather than a perimeter oriented wing. His ball handling has really regressed. As a playmaker in the short roll, he would still be awesome. Luka and reaves really do look to feed him the ball too.
Interestingly, Lebron is getting into more spots on either the post or in pick-and-roll situations. PnR with AR is pretty darn good, even with Luka.
I think it’s fluid and can change in the playoffs. Reaves will have to show that he can be a 23-25 ppg player on good efficiency in the playoffs. If he’s able to do it, then yeah Bron as the 3rd option is fine
he is absolutely not the 3rd option. he’s still better than reaves overall, and 10x more consistent game to game.
incredible how reaves is allowed to go 0/8 from three and still gets the benefit of the doubt. reaves is a great 6th man, not a 2nd option, at this point of his career.
He absolutely is the third option; he literally takes fewer shots than Austin now that they’re both healthy. It doesn’t mean he’s less important, but he’s been taking 12-15 shots per game and Austin has been taking 15-20 during this recent winning streak.
In the truest sense of the term, he is their third option. Luka and Reaves take on a heavier load scoring wise.
Stop sucking him off dude. LeBron may be a better all around player than Reaves still but he is not the 2nd option on offense at all. 10 games of him being the second option would kill how fresh he needs to be for the playoffs.
As an all around player he is better than Reaves, but Reaves is the only guy on this team that can really burn a guy and provide rim pressure. As a scorer in half court offense Reaves is definitely the better option and I say this as a huge Lebron fan.
Anytime Reaves has a bad game it’s immediately “he’s a 6th man” like he hasn’t had like 3 straight games of 30+ leading up to this game.
he’s scored 30+ only 4 times since he’s returned from injury (February 3rd) please stop
And? As the 2nd option, he’s had 3 straight games of 30+ leading up to this against contenders.
Before the 3 games LBJ sat, LBJ was shooting more than Reaves and was the 2nd option as AR was coming back from injury.
Lebron last 30 point game was in January. AR is the more consistent scoring threat this season and LeBron clearly agrees by the way he is playing.
I mean 4 times post a pretty lengthy injury is pretty good ngl
Lebron is whatever option you need. But Reaves is the second option. He handles the ball more and is always looking for his shot. And I think Lebron is perfectly fine with that.
No you’re wrong. LeBron is the third option period. It allows the primary ball handlers to get into their flow and it keeps Bron fresh to play defense and close games well.
He is objectively the 3rd option and that’s a good thing for everyone, including LeBron. Reaves is better self-creator and that’s opens up opportunities for LeBron to impact the game despite diminishing play.
He locked up KD
#YEAR23 STRIVEFORGREATNESS
Kevinyahu Dickerson today: 18 points and 7 turnovers (including a backcourt and an 8-second violation).
Bron played great defense too
He really just woke up and turned into LeDraymond. Most versatile ever
Mfers thought he makes the Lakers worse. Also in the playoffs they absolutely need him to have a chance against some of these teams. I’m hoping AR can cook as the 2nd option but playoff intensity is different, I think they’re gonna have to up the usage on Bron at some point unless AR somehow has no drop off
I been saying this. If LeBron can lock into the 3rd role and bring his career averages from the famous 27 7 and 7 were used to down to like 18-22 ppg 5 & 5, then the lakers have a shot to make a run. Not like a finals run but maybe western conference finals depending on how the seeding plays out.
Sooo… just keep doing what he’s doing?
Yea, he’s averaging 21/7/5 this season. Not sure what they meant by that.
Finally beat/outplayed KD H2H after several years