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Los Angeles Lakers: 5 Lessons (FLAWS!) in loss to the Toronto Raptors

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 01: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks off the court at half time during an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors at The Arena in the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 1, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis - Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 01: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks off the court at half time during an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors at The Arena in the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 1, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis - Pool/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James may have that reoccurring groin issue. If not, he’s hasn’t played well since the first scrimmage game! 

Lake Show Life has seen this player before. This is the same LeBron James that played inefficient ball while the stats cover his play. Then lesser players outplay him. In this case, it was OG Anunoby.

For the second straight game, LeBron James came out with little energy and did not set the tone for the team or make sure AD got established early. To put this perspective, the Lakers did not score for the first five minutes of the game.

For LeBron apologists that throw stats up to defend him, he finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. If the NBA media want to give him credit for point guard skills, he has to take the heat when he clogs up the offense which he did in this game. He also had a team-high 4 turnovers.

But it’s the defense that is the major problem.  Watch the positioning here.

  • Watch Kyle Lowry drive the lane, LeBron does not move. He loses the defensive discipline (Seeing man and the ball!) allowing Anonoby to cut baseline. Lowry sees him and dumps the ball to him. 
  • As OG tries to reverse it, LeBron is in a perfect position to block the shot. He does not and Anonoby has an uncontested layup.

How about on the fast break? Did he get back?

  • Watch Fred Van Vleet drive to the basket. LeBron leaves OG Anonoby wide open in the corner for a 3 point shot. 
  • VanVleet makes the pass and OG knocks down the second of two 3 point shots from the same spot on consecutive possessions.

OG Anonoby scored 23 points on (8-9 shooting!), hit all three of his shots from distance while grabbing 4 rebounds and had a game-high plus/minus of +27. LeBron had a -20.

In short LeBron James night against OG can be basically summed up this way.

All of this is not on LeBron James because everyone was particularly bad, But he’s the superstar and the supposed leader of the Los Angeles Lakers. Comes with the territory and the gig.

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