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Los Angeles Lakers: Defense could be a reason for LeBron James leaving

By Jason Renner

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 20: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half of game three of the NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 20, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 92-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 20: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half of game three of the NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 20, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 92-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers fans had to be happy seeing the Cleveland Cavaliers crumble around LeBron James in Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers.

There had to be some Los Angeles Lakers fans smiling watching Game 3 in the first round series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers.

Last night, the Pacers narrowly defeated LeBron James and the Cavaliers in Indiana. The Pacers escaped with a two-point victory, with J.R. Smith missing a half-court heave at the buzzer. The Cavaliers find themselves now down 2-1 to the Pacers, and LeBron’s frustration is being easily seen on the court right now.

While the Pacers are a good team, it’s hard to think that anyone had them up 2-1 after three games against LeBron. Few teams even win one game against LeBron in the first round. James came into the postseason on a 21-game winning streak in the first round and had never lost a Game 1 in the opening round, either.

Though, the Pacers rode Bojan Bogdanovic‘s huge game to victory last night. Bogdanovic scored 30 points on 11 of 15 shooting and 7 of 9 from deep, per ESPN. He also hit this BIG three to put the Pacers up in the fourth quarter.

He also took on the task of guarding LeBron for the majority of the game. Bogdanovic did a good job at limiting James opportunities, and when James passed the ball looking to set up other teammates, he found little help from others.

Cleveland’s supporting cast struggled once again in the third game in a row. Kevin Love and George Hill were the only other players who scored double-digit points. Though Cleveland struggled on offense, their defense was also lacking in the loss.

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Cleveland finished the season with the 29th best defense in the league and a defensive rating of 109.5, per NBA.com. Cleveland has held the Pacers under 100 points in all three games, but overall, their defense has been poor in key possessions. Whether not closing out on defenders, not helping off the weak-side or just lack of effort, Cleveland has struggled to stop the Pacers offense.

Multiple Cavaliers defenders have tried to step up to stop the Pacers main contributors and have failed. If this poor defense continues, the Cavaliers could find themselves losing Game 4 as well.

LeBron has done as much as he can in this series. According to ESPN, he’s averaged 32.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists. He’s also shot 54 percent from the field and a surprising 37.5 percent from deep. He has easily been the best player on the floor but is getting zero help from his team on defense.

If the Cavaliers exit the playoffs early, expect James to be searching for a more defense-oriented team in free agency. As the saying goes, defense wins championships. For LeBron to continue dominating the NBA, he needs a team that can reliably defend all positions on the court.

The 29th defensively rated Cavaliers just aren’t doing the job. A team like the Los Angeles Lakers offer a better option for James after finishing 12th in defensive rating. The Lakers are a team that prides themselves on continuing to improve their defense. Head coach Luke Walton has emphasized defense since training camp this past fall.

This may intrigue LeBron to join if he can rely on a Lakers team to defend while he can focus more on play-making duties. Having strong defenders like Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart certainly help the Lakers’ case. LeBron’s teams are most successful when they are built on defense. His current Cavs team, barring another major roster overhaul, will not help him contend for a championship.

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LeBron and the Cavs now prepare for Game 4 in Indiana. This is the first time LeBron is facing a 2-1 hole in the first round. This has been arguably his toughest first-round battle yet, and he’ll need some help if he is going to win Game 4.

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