Los Angeles Lakers: Lessons from the loss to Houston Rockets
By Ronald Agers
LeBron James reverted back to old habits
How did LeBron James do in this game? Well it depends on what you define as a good game. LeBron James scored 29 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. However let me remind everyone of a question earlier in the year when the Lakers lost winnable games like these…
https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1073428218076528640
"Are you the fan that likes to win… …or are you the type of fan that wants to be entertained and happy because you are a LeBron James fan? Well if you are just a fan that thinks LeBron James is the best player in the world and consistently complains that the Golden State Warriors are a super team…"
In the first half, the Rockets were getting the same treatment with LeBron getting caught in bad matchups switching LeBron James up with Clint Capela. Boy it was working too.
.@KingJames goes baseline for a one-handed slam!#LakeShow (📺: @SpectrumSN & TNT) pic.twitter.com/9YsUIkv5jb
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 14, 2018
Time after time, it seemed like Capela got left on an island. Here, LeBron James just blew past Capela and dunked on him. The other four Lakers would just move their man to the other end of the floor to give James time to make the move. The Rockets players have no choice. Either stay with their man or get an illegal defense call. P.J. Tucker tries to get back but it was too late.
He was good in transition…
Two-handed throwdown by LeBron in transition!#LakeShow (📺: @SpectrumSN & TNT) pic.twitter.com/AKaiSzTleo
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 14, 2018
He is running his lane on a patented fast break. Two quick passes and Eric Gordon making a life decision not to get in front of him to draw a charge leads to a fast break dunk.
Notice these plays are in the third quarter. LeBron had 27 at the end of the third. Here’s the problem…
He finished with 29. What does that mean?
LeBron James disappeared in the 4th quarter. To make things worse, he did not take the challenge of stopping James Harden when the house was on fire. By the time he got on him it was too late…
https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1073420776114716677
Three quotes here apply…
Quote number one…
"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."
Quote number two…
"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."
Quote number three…
"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!"
The last time I wrote this in post game reports, the Lakers started 0-3 and stumbled to a 2-5 start. Two points in what LeBron calls “Money time” while not taking the defensive challenge of stopping Harden while he goes nuts is not acceptable if the Lakers want to win. Period, point-blank!