Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons from win over Spurs

The Los Angeles Lakers exacted some revenge on the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. Check out our four lessons from the game!

Spoiler alert, Los Angeles Lakers fans, this post game might mention LeBron James in it. Just want to let you know.

I don’t know what it is about LeBron James when he sees the San Antonio Spurs walk into the Staples Center, because he has destroyed this bunch in the two games they’ve played there.

The San Antonio Spurs escaped with a 143-142 overtime nail biter that was considered the best Lakers game I’ve seen all year-long. Both teams played great and there was plenty on excitement.

Back then, I was all over LeBron James and how he did not step up in the final minutes of games.

Los Angeles Lakers: 5 Takeaways from overtime loss to Spurs

The Los Angeles Lakers lost in OT in a heart breaker to the San Antonio Spurs 143-142 in one of the best NBA games of the year!

"If he is the best player on the court, the last eight minutes is when he has to impose his will and lead his team to victory. He has to be as dominant or more so at THIS time in the game. This game was winnable but a scenario that Lakers fans need to watch throughout the season occurred. LeBron James played well enough to fill stat sheets, but not well enough to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to victory."

Then went on to say…

"The Lakers NEED LeBron James to take on this mentality. When the game is on the line and close, he needs to take over and make plays. He needs to be aggressive! On Thursday he was passive and did not do what stars are supposed to do to close out games. Thursday’s game was winnable. LeBron did not take advantage."

Then I probably irritated hurt some LeBron James fans’ feeling saying this issuing a challenge to the franchise player…

"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!"

That was a month ago. This is now. Challenge met and I will discuss it in detail. LeBron James went off and destroyed the San Antonio Spurs leading the Los Angeles Lakers back from a 4th quarter deficit scoring 14 points in a row and running off to a 121-113 win over the Spurs for their fourth straight win and a sweep of the home stand.

The Lakers had to overcome an ankle injury to Brandon Ingram and foul trouble (more on that later…that needs to be addressed) to keep pace with the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference.

More on Ingram…

There is no structural damage even though the injury kept him out for the rest of the contest. LaMarcus Aldridge was assessed a Flagrant one foul for the play. Ingram will be out for the next few games as he recovers.

Gregg Popovich was very upfront with LeBron James performance…

Sometimes simplicity is the object of genius when it comes to guarding LeBron James…

There is a ton of things to get to so let’s get to it…

Here’s my four lessons.