LeBron James seizes control of Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals to make sure the Los Angeles Lakers reached the NBA Finals.
It took ten years of suffering and rebuilding to get there but the Los Angeles Lakers are finally back to the NBA Finals.
Sporting an assuring 3-1 lead, the Lakers entered Game 5 showdown self-confident but aware that it was not done yet, especially against the comeback kids, the Denver Nuggets that had already recovered a 1-3 deficit twice in these playoffs.
LeBron James knew he could not give them a chance to come back into the series, he should not grant them the minimum glimmer of hope to make another miraculous recovery. He had to get it over with Game 5 (h/t NBA.com).
"I’ve always had the mindset that in a close-out game for me personally, I’m just as desperate as the team that we are trying to close out. I don’t want to play another game. And if we are in a position where we can win that game, that’s just my mindset."
As Tim Legler said later:
"He decided to take matters into his own hands."
It was MVP LeBron James that showed up at Lake Buena Vista on Saturday.
The stat line says 38 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, 60 percent from the floor. History says three triple-doubles from tying Magic Johnson for most in playoffs, most career 30-plus point playoff games and tie with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for third-most NBA Finals appearances.
The LeBron that stepped on the floor in the first half was too strong for the Nuggets to be stopped driving to the basket, too fast in the open court. He got to the half-time break with 16 points, seven rebounds and 6 assists.
I cannot help but think about the article saying that he allegedly was running out of gas throughout games, while he still had 22 points and nine rebounds in the second half. Moreover, he scored nine clutch points in the final three minutes of the game, this time from the outside, to secure the Lakers’ victory. Again, Legler acknowledged that
"LeBron James just completely took over to ensure that he would get to his tenth NBA Finals."
He could not be denied. It was as simple as that. The Nuggets could not stop the best player in the world. They had no answer.
"He was just too much for the Nuggets. (T. Legler)"
Denver Nuggets’ head coach Mike Malone had complimentary words for James too:
"It is incredible. And when you just step back and look and marvel at what LeBron is doing at this stage in his career, how he continues to find ways to improve and get better and take whatever team he’s on to new heights, that defines his greatness."
Finally, his own head coach, Frank Vogel, expressed his admiration for his best player:
"I don’t know if I’ve ever witnessed a guy take over the game the way he did in the fourth quarter tonight in person. It was remarkable. […] Obviously, taking over down the stretch, possession after possession after possession of big shots, big plays. Just a remarkable performance."
But it was LeBron himself who, during the trophy presentation, put in words the better way his performance and his duties:
"My teammates said ‘Bring us home’ and it’s my responsibility to try to make the right plays and do the right things on the floor to help us win ball games. We have a few guys on our team that have never been to the finals before, so I take that responsibility as well and my shoulders are wide enough to carry a lot of load but (also) my mind his strong. I always keep my mind strong and I’m happy to just be in this position."
He decided this was it for Denver. He had the responsibility to close the series and drag his team one step closer to the championship.
It does not matter his age, who receives awards and what people say. LeBron James is still the best basketball player in the world so far, and he steps up when the moment asks for it. This time it was to put a definitive end to the unbelievable season of the Denver Nuggets.