Victory is more than just a statement. The 21-point comeback against the Clippers is a warning to the entire Western Conference.
The Lakers should be feared.
How can they not follow what LeBron James did to the Clippers?
After James knocking out opponents three in a row, what other team wants to play against the Lakers in the playoffs?
The Lakers may not have the lineup, defense, or rebounding to win another championship, but they have an ace that will allow them to emerge victorious on any given night, like Thursday at CryptoIt's the same with Com Arena.
They have LeBron James.
Even though James is 39 years old, there is nothing his opponents can do when James enters what Anthony Davis calls "sick mode."
The Memphis Grizzlies learned that in last year's playoffs.
The Clippers remembered that Thursday.
With 11:45 left in the game, the Lakers trailed the Clippers by 21 points, but James hit a series of three-pointers to gradually close the gap.
He made five three-pointers in the fourth quarter and beat the Clippers 19-16 in the final quarter. He finished up scoring a game-high 34 points.
He tucked his cloak under the bench seat, I guess," said coach Davin Hamm. "It's time for him to get things out. He did it, put on the cape, became aggressive and got into a good rhythm. ”
The Lakers equalized because of his score, but they took the lead because of his passing. James dished out four assists in the fourth quarter, including one of Hachimura's three-pointers to give the team a 109-106 lead with 3:10 left in the game.
Once they start planning and trying to pack in the late stages, he'll be able to separate them with passes," Hamm said.
But James did more than just take over the offense. He also defended the Clippers' best player, Kawhi Leonard, for much of the second half. When Leonard missed a shot with five seconds left in the game, James put his hand on Leonard's face, and this time it could have tied the score.
With Jarred Vanderbilt sidelined with a foot injury, James also defended Kevin Durant for long periods of time in the Lakers' last game against the Phoenix Suns.
James is 39 years old. How often can he lead the offense and take on the all-important defensive tasks?
Until I can't do it anymore," James said.
James' extraordinary efforts transformed the Lakers. With James in charge of scoring, Anthony Davis was able to camp under the basket and focus on rebounding. With James attracting multiple defenders, Hachimura and D'Angelo Russell were able to shoot without controversy.
I think my players know I'm going to play the right game no matter what," James said. "So if I'm packed, they know I'm going to find the right game or find the right player. ”
Hachimura scored 17 points and Russell scored 18.
It's reminiscent of their performance in the playoffs last year, the Memphis Series (first round), the Golden State Series (second round)," Ham said. "These guys are very capable and willing to shoot when it matters most. You saw it on display tonight in that time. ”
Perhaps most importantly, James' fourth-quarter outburst convinced the Lakers that they could win, which in turn made them more willing to be defenders. The Lakers made just six turnovers in the first three quarters. They forced so many people in the fourth quarter alone.
To be clear, such a performance didn't make the Lakers suddenly a championship contender.
The Clippers played without Paul George and Ivica Zubac and completely dominated them for three seasons.
The Lakers are mediocre in both rebounders and defense. Their line-up is uneven. They have a lot of injury-prone players, including James and Davis.
There's a reason they can't win a couple of games in a row. There's a reason why they're ninth in the West.
All this indicates that they didn't add it to cryptocom arena's banner collection.
But they have James, and as long as they have him, they have a chance to knock out almost every high-seeded team – provided they make the playoffs, of course.
He's the greatest player of all time. For many who played in Jordan's prime, James may never be able to match it, but that's just emotion talking. James has had 4 or 5 seasons of great performances than Jordan.