Los Angeles Lakers: 3 takeaways from blowout win over Houston Rockets

Jan 12, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) passes the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) passes the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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LeBron James set the tone, provided the excitement for the Los Angeles Lakers and won a bet with Dennis Schroder!

The story about LeBron James’ performance should be about his exploits in this game. However, the drama in the Houston Rockets locker room will cancel all of that for probably the rest of the month. Otherwise, the storyline would be about how LeBron James put himself at the top of the MVP race.

LeBron James put together a stat line of 26 points (22 in the first half!), 8 rebounds and 5 assists. He shot 10-20 from the field with four shots from distance.

To be honest, these stats really don’t matter. This 3 pointer right here sums up the whole night and broke the spirit of the Houston Rockets.

  • LeBron James receives the ball from Markieff Morris in the left corner.
  • He takes his eyes off the rim to step back behind the 3 point line looking down. (Fun fact: This lowers the percentages of making the shot.) 
  • He waited for Ben McLemore (Who he had knocked to the floor in the game!) to run out to him.
  • Then he shoots and turns around while the ball is in the air…making the shot look “StePHORTLESS”  in honor of the only other player to try this Stephen Curry.

After the game, it was found out that the shot wasn’t the most impressive event of the night. According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, LeBron bet Dennis Schroder before he took it.

"LeBron said he made a bet with Dennis Schroder before his lookaway 3-pointer. LeBron said he shot the ball, turned around and looked Schroder in the eyes and said, “Bet it.”"

This is not the first time that LeBron James made a bet with a teammate. In LeBron’s first year in Los Angeles, Lance Stephenson made a bet with LeBron over a 3 pointer in Miami and…

If LeBron James didn’t have a birthday party a couple of weeks ago, this game more than made up for it. These are those nights when players go for 50 points and the King could have easily done so. The Houston franchise will never be the same after his no look jumper…GUARANTEED!

As devastating as LeBron was on the basketball court, there was another player that topped him. Yes, what James started, this player finished. Read on to see who this player is.