Los Angeles Lakers: 3 lessons from win vs Portland Trail Blazers
By Ronald Agers
1. LeBron James’ teammates get AGGRESSIVE!
LeBron James can put up numbers. It has been stated time and time again on Lake Show Life, but some of these stats are considered empty stats. Anyone of LeBron James’ caliber and talent can put up 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. But there were many instances where he did not impose his will on the game and break the spirit of the opposing team…
When LeBron James keeps pressuring the defense…
It opens up easy opportunities for his teammates. JaVale McGee had a great night last night. With Tyson Chandler scaring everyone half to death going into the locker room with a chest contusion, McGee handled his minutes very well…
Cry Jurkic…cry! The Lakers did an outstanding job of exposing Jurkic time and time again on defense. LeBron James would break down the defense on the dribble and draw him to help. Every time he did, his man would go to the rim and well…press play! Umm…JaVale?
LeBron James crying? Oh, he had Jurkic on the verge…wonder what he’s jumping for? It wasn’t for joy!
LeBron James drives the lane and Jurkic is hit with the okey-doke again as Tyson Chandler rolls to the rim…press play!
What this piece has driven home is that LeBron James needs to play hard and be aggressive. That’s all. He doesn’t have to go for 40 every night with the efficiency of what he did in this game, but he needs to take the ball to the basket and put pressure on the defense. It opens everything up for everyone else.
Plus, if he defends as he does here every night, NOBODY has an excuse to take plays off. This is leadership is folks. That’s what the Lakers paid $154 million dollars for.