Los Angeles Lakers: 4 lessons from the win over the Chicago Bulls

LeBron James carried the Los Angeles Lakers to this victory!

Without Anthony Davis in the lineup, the Lakers needed a huge night from LeBron James. It’s a good thing the Chicago Bulls was on the schedule Friday night.

LeBron James has dominated the Chicago Bulls throughout his career. In this game he went over the 20 point plateau for the 50th time in his career. He also continued his season-long streak of 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

LeBron continued his strategy of keeping his team afloat by running the offense and setting up his teammates. Then in the last few minutes, LeBron James again closed out the game late getting to the basket and drawing fouls.

It was strange that Bulls Head Coach Billy Donovan gave rookie Patrick Williams the assignment to guard James. Moreover, the Bulls didn’t even to bother to double team him at the beginning of the game. By the time Chicago decided to start double-teaming, LeBron had figured their schemes out and picked them apart.

By the end of the game, the Chicago front line of Williams, Thaddeus Young and Wendell Carter Jr. did not have the energy to stand in front of the King’s attacks to the basket.

He finished the game with 28 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. But it was not without drama at the end.

This report could have been a whole lot different thanks to LeBron missing a free throw late and settling for a 30-foot shot with the Lakers up one point. Luckily the Bulls blew a chance to win it missing a potential game-winner and then fumbling the rebound out of bounds.

Without the usual scoring and rebounding from Anthony Davis, someone had to step up to support LeBron James in his absence. Read on to see who that player was.