Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James comes home to Cleveland…3 lessons!

For the second time on the road trip, LeBron James willed the Los Angeles Lakers to a victory over an old team. This time it was the Cleveland Cavaliers. Check out our three lessons!

LeBron James is a famous basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers. For the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James is infamous.

He was Cleveland’s adopted son. He was loved by almost everyone in Ohio. Then he left and took his talents to South Beach. When he made his return to Cleveland in a Miami Heat uniform, there was extra security, extra anxiety by LeBron James and extra hate by the Cavs fans.

Then LeBron James came back four years later, he took the Cavs to the NBA Finals four straight years and brought the championship drought to an end. After four years, LeBron packed it up again and took his life out west. He made his triumphant return to Cleveland since his departure.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers are trending upward on the NBA standings. The Cleveland Cavaliers are at the very bottom of it.

The Los Angeles Lakers moonwalked into the Thanksgiving holiday, but they turned it on in the final moments to win 109-105 to finish the road trip with a 2-1 record. More importantly, the Lakers at 10-7, three games above .500 for the first time since 2013.

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But let’s be clear here, this was all about LeBron James and his homecoming and how the fans would treat him. This time they gave him the respect and appreciation that he deserved…

It was funny watching the game on ESPN and listening to Mark Jackson say that the Cleveland Cavaliers organization, as a whole, should have done more to show their appreciation. I guess a parade and showgirls from Las Vegas should have been called in.

LeBron James did not disappoint in this game as he finished with 32 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists in 35 minutes. We’ll get to him in a minute, but the game showcased Lonzo Ball, who when aggressive, can really help the Lakers…like against the Cavs.

The rest of the Lakers were thinking about Thanksgiving turkey with all the trimmings. So was I, so let me get you Lakers fans through these three lessons!

1.LeBron James made sure the Lakers did not lose!

This was a trap game for the Lakers and everyone short of JaVale McGee, Lonzo Ball (more on him in a minute!) and LeBron James, who, for the most part, kept the ship steady until the Cleveland Cavaliers found a way to lose the game at the end.

The Los Angeles Lakers as a whole are going to have to realize that they will probably get the best shot from every team in the NBA as long as LeBron James is on the team. Cleveland played one of their best games of the season, only turning the ball over three times in the whole contest. It looked like the Cavs had a chance with a Jordan Clarkson explosion that put them up by nine.

After that, LeBron James put an end to the suspense, picking up the pace of the game and leading the Lakers to victory. He missed a few free throws down the stretch but, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope knocked down his free throws to seal the victory.

This was a great day for LeBron James from beginning to end…

2. Lonzo played some good “Ball”!

To say Lonzo Ball is struggling to score the basketball is being very, very kind. Lonzo had a bagel against the Orlando Magic and only two points against the Miami Heat.

He broke out of his slump in a big way scoring 15 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out six assists. But the most important aspect of this game, as far as Lonzo is concerned, is that he was aggressive.

When was the last time Lakers fans saw Lonzo make a play like this…

After taking a pass from Kyle Kuzma on the left-wing, Lonzo makes a quick read seeing that Cedi Osman came out on him in an undisciplined close out. Instead of rushing a 3-point shot up, which would be a bad shot, he drives to the basket. With his reputation of being a non-shooter, all the Cavs players stay at home with their man and Lonzo finishes the play with a slam dunk!

This is the definition of aggressiveness that the Lakers need.

How about these plays here. These are more impressive because they happened at crunch time when the Lakers needed it…

The underestimated part of Lonzo Ball’s game is on the defensive end of the floor.

Here he is being posted up by Larry Nance Jr. He pokes the ball out from behind and that starts the fast break. It ends with Caldwell-Pope with a pass to LeBron James for the slam dunk. This was the turning point of the game. The Lakers were in trouble and needed a spark. Lonzo delivered.

Finally…

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With the game tied with a little over a minute left in the game, Lonzo Ball gets the ball in the right corner and drives the baseline. With that move, he draws the defense and finds JaVale McGee cutting to the basket for a big-time layup.

This Lakers team is totally different when Lonzo Ball is aggressive.

Speaking of JaVale McGee…

3. JaVale McGee is making millions of dollars!

At this rate Lakers fans, the NBA should Fed-Ex the Most Improved Award to JaVale McGee because this dude is balling right now.

Check this line.

JaVale McGee scored 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting. Add five rebounds, two assists and three blocks, which included a major block on a Cedi Osman layup when the game was on the line.

Luke Walton again tried to play the small ball lineup, which Cleveland capitalized on in the last frame, but when McGee was placed back in the lineup, all was good again on the Lakers front.

When Doris Burke talked about the discussion she had with JaVale McGee about being surprised by the level of success he is having this year, he said no. All he needed was the minutes…

He ain’t lying…

Fans need to realize something that JaVale was exposed to at Golden State will benefit the Lakers… do your job, run hard and get to your spot. Just like he did here. Sometimes the simplicity is the object of genius.

The Los Angeles Lakers have started their long journey through the NBA season. Lake Show Life will be there every step of the way. Continue to check in for Lakers news, previews and reviews.

Happy Thanksgiving from Lake Show Life!