Los Angeles Lakers survive the Miami Heat, 3 lessons

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope almost choked at the line, but he played very well! 

This really could have been a different conversation. Had the Lakers gone to overtime and lost, KCP would have needed to support from his teammates again because the Lakers fans would have come after him.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, shot very well in this game continuing his run as a starter. KCP hit a big 3-point shot in the left corner in the fourth quarter and even though he blew those free throws, he showed heart getting the important offensive rebound. Caldwell-Pope ended the night with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field.

Speaking of heart, JaVale McGee showed his mettle scoring nine points, grabbing 10 rebounds (three offensive!) and five important blocks. Even though the Lakers roster is full of veterans, the maturity of this team is remarkable. McGee could have sulked after getting dunked on here early in the first half.

But he kept playing. Is it embarrassing? Sure. Was it his fault? Actually no. Davis was slow on his rotation. But now he doesn’t let it bother him like last year when he was beefing with Luke Walton over defensive schemes. He keeps playing through it. He really dominated in the third quarter protecting the rim.

Instead, he takes his anger out on the other end.

The fact that this lesson about McGee is being discussed based on 17 minutes of floor time shows how much of an impact JaVale has on this team and in the game. He missed only one shot.

The Lakers will take on the Atlanta Hawks Sunday. The team is falling off a cliff losing eight of their last 10 games. It has been reported that Trae Young is getting frustrated with the lack of help and based on what the Lakers did to him last time, he’ll need it.

Finally.

LeBron James will be in Columbus, Ohio Saturday to watch his son Bronny play his alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary’s of Akron. Bronny plays for Sierra Canyon with Dwyane Wade’s son Zaire.

Good luck fellas from Lake Show Life!

Finally, to anyone reads this, please send your prayers to NBA Commissioner Emeritus, David Stern and his family. He suffered a brain hemorrhage at a restaurant in New York. What this man has done for the NBA cannot be understated. Many people (myself included) owe the man gratitude for making the NBA so big that there is a website like Lake Show Life to cover the NBA today.

Back In 1984 when he started his tenure as NBA commissioner, this would not be possible. Join Lake Show Life in praying for David Stern’s recovery.