LeBron James’ role was key to what Luke Walton wanted in style of play!
Luke Walton‘s scheme was based on of the blueprint of the franchise that he left.
The Golden State Warriors’ positionless basketball is pretty to watch and the “Splash Brothers” Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, along with some dude named Kevin Durant, catch the headlines. But the overlooked element is the power forward, Draymond Green.
LeBron James was supposed to assume those duties of Green, the player that was to use his experience and instincts to man the back-line to help the young core along.
Two things. One, LeBron James wants to play the point and two, LeBron James hasn’t played efficient defense since he left Miami.
Before the signing of Tyson Chandler early in the season, when the Lakers struggled out the gate, James was a major reason why. His defensive rotations were atrocious. LeBron James knew his body was not holding up to the demands of being a two-way player.
For a while, Tyson Chandler’s play was a stop-gap to a reality that LeBron James and the Lakers know now…
LeBron James is starting to break down from the mileage. A groin injury that was day-to-day stretched out to 17 games provides evidence to that fact.
After the All-Star break, it will be a full on race for all the playoff contenders to make their push for the postseason. The Lakers will face the next 14 out of their next 20 games on the road starting with their trip to Oakland to play Golden State.
LeBron James did some heavy lifting to get the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals with an epic Game 1 when he dropped 51 points.
But, after that game, LeBron James looked worn out for the rest of the series. Even to the point that he quit in the last game.
Maybe he realizes that this is not just four games of heavy lifting…it’s 30!
He knows he needs Anthony Davis’ help.