The Los Angeles Lakers were able to take care of the Miami Heat behind a dominant performance from LeBron James. Check out our three lessons from the game!
The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t get off to the start they were hoping for during their three-game road trip. Things began against the Orlando Magic, and they did not go well.
After a strong first quarter, the Lakers were handled rather easily by the Magic, who gained the upper hand in the middle two quarters.
Everyone seemed to be a step late, as the Lakers were coming off multiple days of rest. Atop that list was LeBron James.
LeBron James did not play particularly well against the Orlando Magic…
Los Angeles Lakers Defense Goes Poof to The Magic…Three Lessons!
The Los Angeles Lakers four game winning streak disappeared to the Orlando Magic in a game dominated by all of the weaknesses of the Lakers!
But, boy he decided to send a message to the Miami Heat, his teammates, me, the NBA and the whole human race that he can be a wrecking force when he wants to be.
LeBron James came out like gangbusters in the first frame dropping 19 points. He scored in every way possible. More on him later.
🎥 Lakers start off hot and don't look back behind an incredible performance by LeBron James, beating the Heat 113-97 #LakersWin pic.twitter.com/P95Bq4v3A0
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 19, 2018
Lake Show Life will take this opportunity to welcome back Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who scored very well in this game backing up the scoring load of James. He has turned things around in recent games.
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat 113-97 on the second night of a back-to-back set, trying to make up for a clunker in Orlando. This put the team in a great position to finish the road trip with a winning record, presumably, when the LeBron James “Reminisce” tour rolls along to Cleveland on Wednesday when they play the Cavaliers.
Look, it’s going to be hard to overlook the accomplishments of LeBron James dropping “Fiddy” on the Heat but the Lakers did a lot of great things as a team to get the team as well.
The defense was much improved over the second and third quarter meltdown against Orlando. It seemed that the Heat had a hand in their face for every layup and dunk as the Heat was collectively worn down at the end of the game.
How good was the interior defense?
I watched Tyler Johnson block his own shot with the bottom of the backboard…
I watched two missed dunks by the Heat knowing they weren’t fouled begging for calls…
Hassan Whiteside…who had played well against the Lakers in the past, looked like a player that wanted to be anywhere but on the court banging up against JaVale McGee. Look, the Miami Heat are not a good team by any stretch of the imagination. Who cares! They are on the schedule.
What’s good news for the Lakers fans is that LeBron James did not care. He systematically did surgery on his old team. Lance Stephenson bet he wouldn’t shoot the last one at the end…
The procedure was a success and the spirit of the Miami Heat died.
Let’s get to it…here’s are the three lessons!