Reason 1: If top NBA talent cannot score a basket in final minutes, then that’s on the players
The Los Angeles Lakers players make a total of $102,828,623. They are paid dearly to hit their shots at the end of their games and throughout. The Lakers rank No. 20 in 3-point completion percentage at 34.1 percent. They also rank lower in points scored in the fourth quarter, they rank No. 26 overall at 25.4 and No. 28 in fourth quarter margin at -3.1.
That’s not going to cut it my fellow fans.
James did hit free throws at the end of the Portland game for the win, but he was not able to do that in other games, passing sometimes instead of taking that shot.
The Lakers are almost an entirely new team, and chemistry takes time. That said, it seems they all like each other, but the pressure Magic, James and Walton are under can cause a lot of finger pointing when fans complain loudly.
Why fans always think it’s the coaches fault is beyond me. Obviously, their game plan to beat the Portland Trail Blazers after losing to them in Portland 16 times worked.
Getting Lonzo Ball back right before the season began threw a wrench in things. And as a close friend of mine, Mahershal Simonet, who plays professionally overseas, told me today on The Sports Collective, “The Los Angeles market ain’t Cleveland, stepping on the court at Staples Center is a heavy burden and I feel like LeBron is a bit scared or nervous any time he doesn’t perform within the LA.”
Simonet’s childhood friend and cohost, also a professional basketball player and Olympian Leon Jacob, was born and raised in Los Angeles, sided with me and felt the players need to step up and execute.
Oh and by the way, Magic says Luke’s job is not in jeapardy:
I totally respectfully disagree with my fellow Lake Show Life Contributor Ronald Agers in his piece, “3 reasons Luke Walton is in trouble.” You give it a read and tell us which side you are on.
Kobe Bryant was clutch. Shaquille O’Neal was clutch. Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabar was clutch. They all rose to the occasion in Los Angeles. James and crew can too, but everyone just needs to chill out, including the players, and find a way to jell on the court.