Los Angeles Lakers: Evaluating LeBron James in crunch time

PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 24: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 24, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Lakers defeated the Suns 131-113. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Second Game Against the Rockets

I’m through talking about the fight. That is what everybody will remember about this game. But the same issues came up AFTER the fight was cleaned up.

This was almost a carbon copy of the first game…

Flight 23 ready for takeoff #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/8EOKSRbV2j
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 21, 2018

Place goes nuts…in the first quarter…

After the fight…

"With the game on the line, LeBron James again came up short. The Houston Rockets handed the ball to James Harden and let him be the MVP of the league and go win the game. Harden especially showed what superstars do with the game on the line. This WAS ESPECIALLY evident after Chris Paul was ejected. Harden took over knocked down a three over great Lonzo Ball defense…drove to the basket and hit a layup to ice the game."

Notice I mentioned this at the end of my report…

"This is the second winnable game that has gone by the waste side for the Los Angeles Lakers. This is the second time that no one has found LeBron James doing anything of mention in the last ten minutes of games. Superstars close games. Who’s the closer for the Los Angeles Lakers? They paid LeBron James $154 million dollars to do it. Where’s the production? Stat sheets don’t win games. Leadership and coming through in the clutch does. LeBron James did neither!"

Then came the game that got social media buzzing…