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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Lessons in elimination of the Portland Trail Blazers

By Ronald Agers

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 29, 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 29, 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

LeBron James had a vintage “Chess” game for the Los Angeles Lakers!

The Lakers head coach, Frank Vogel worried that Game 5 was a potential trap game. With LeBron James being all over the news concerning the boycott, it would have been easy for him to be distracted.

For the first half, it looked like it was going to happen with a sloppy defensive first half. But LeBron decided that he didn’t want to play Game 6 on Monday night.

Granted the sports media tends to overdo it at times, when they gush over LeBron, for his basketball I.Q., thinking the game strategically or making his teammates better. These really are not cliches because it’s games like these they are talking about.

LeBron James finished his night with 36 points (14-19 shooting, 4-7 in 3 pointers and hit all 5 free throws!), adding 10 rebounds and 10 assists to the mix.

But the major key for the Los Angeles Lakers was keeping the Lakers’ offense rolling along while the defense showed up in the second half. The man was playing chess when everyone else was playing checkers.

The man even ran a version of the Packers sweep. Here it is on the basketball court.

You’ve heard of the Lombardi sweep? Now let’s look a the Lakers sweep!

  • See JaVale McGee got the play started with a seal on C.J. McCollum. Then LeBron continues the seal that sets up the next sequence.
  • JaVale then gets a seal on Hassan Whiteside as McCollum is sealed simultaneously.
  • Then LeBron James runs it in the alley!

One of the major concerns coming into this series with Portland was the Lakers bench. While the superstars dominated in this game, timely plays by other players kept the Blazers at bay.

Who are they? read on and find out!

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