Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons from win over Spurs

1.) James dominates the Spurs

LeBron James had his welcome to L.A. moment about a month ago when these two teams played here…

The last time I remember the Staples Center erupting to that type of frenzy was when that Kobe Bryant dude decided to drop the mic with 60 on the Utah Jazz in his final game.

But ten minutes later, LeBron James missed two free throws and the final shot at the end and the Lakers lost. In that post game I staunchly defended James because he was aggressive and he looked like he wanted to take the shot. He just missed it..so what.

This game was different. LeBron James knew when to take this game over and he did.

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1070568521145282560

James dropped a cool 42 points, had 5 rebounds and dished out 6 assists in an all-around effort that sent the message he didn’t feel like losing the game.

Sure he went over 40 points but he’s done that before. He has destroyed a bad Miami team for 51 points earlier this year. This game was important against a disciplined Spurs team that had the team on the ropes in winning time.

LeBron was on the bench with about ten minutes left in the 4th quarter. He wanted back in and luckily Luke Walton ignored the substitution patterns that got the Lakers in trouble in the first place.

Then this happened…

LeBron James throws a perfect lob pass from the Staples Center painted area to JaVale McGee for the reverse slam dunk. A perfect play called by Luke Walton coming out of a timeout. Special shout out to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope who set the pick to free McGee up.

Then he went on a one team wrecking spree…

In the positionless basketball scheme the Lakers want to play with multiple playmakers is in effect here. LeBron James grabs the ball and takes off down the floor. When he sees the Spurs not picking him up, he does not bail them out with a pull-up jumper, he hits Dante Cunningham with a spin move, draws the foul and goes to the free throw line.

By this time the house was on fire…grab the children, the dog….

Here, LeBron James anticipates the cross-court pass and steals the ball and takes off on the fast break. Kyle Kuzma runs the floor hard and receives the pass for the slam dunk that blew the roof off the Staples Center.

Grab the fish named Fido, the hamster and gerbil at this point…

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1070556853086543872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1070556853086543872&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flakeshowlife.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php

Overall in the 4th quarter, LeBron James had 20 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. He took a charge and took the life out of the Spurs.

The game was his tonight.