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LeBron bails out the Los Angeles Lakers in Play-In matchup over Warriors

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 19: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers scores the game winning three point basket against Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors in the closing minute of an NBA Tournament Play-In game at Staples Center on May 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 19: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers scores the game winning three point basket against Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors in the closing minute of an NBA Tournament Play-In game at Staples Center on May 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers found themselves in the NBA Play-In Tournament despite finishing the season on a five-game winning streak. They found themselves in a matchup with the Golden State Warriors that was television matchup gold for the NBA. Both teams put on a show and it went down to the last minute!

Somewhere Adam Silver and the NBA executives are crying tears of joy. ESPN executives are popping champagne and celebrating. This was one of the more exciting games of the NBA season as the Los Angeles Lakers survive the Golden State Warriors, 103-100.

Get ready for the most backward post-game report in Lake Show Life history. Why? Because the Lakers played that way for about 30 minutes in this game.

The good from the Los Angeles Lakers’ win:

If this game doesn’t get the NBA back on the road to excitement, nothing will!

Lake Show Life tends to brutally honest at times when it comes to the business of basketball. Nobody cared that the Memphis Grizzlies were taking on the San Antonio Spurs. When Memphis ran off to a 23-6 lead to start the game, for a while it looked like the Spurs did care either.

This storyline was about Stephen Curry and LeBron James. Oh, that’s it.

With all of the criticism about the new Play-In Tournament (Thanks a lot LeBron!), the NBA and the surrounding NBA media outlets (Lake Show Life included!) needed a shot in the arm before the playoffs start for real this weekend. Remember this section of the article because we’ll revisit this in a second.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope came out on fire!

The Los Angeles Lakers could have been in trouble if not for timely shooting for KCP. He knocked down two huge 3 pointers from the right corner to keep the Lakers within shouting distance in the first quarter. He finished with 10 points and was a part of the story of the game which will be covered shortly.

Alex Caruso…did not miss a shot…in the first half!

AC’s shot sure was fresh in the first half. He hit all five of his shots for 13 points which led the team in scoring at the break. He was outstanding in his defense of Stephen Curry. Steph may have had 35 but if it wasn’t for Alex, it would have been 50.

The third quarter!

The Los Angeles Lakers had 42 points at halftime. Then they woke up and scored 35 points in the third quarter. What got them back in the game? Defense. The Warriors had only 5 turnovers in the first half and nearly doubled that total with 8 in the third frame.

The Los Angeles Lakers introduced their primary center…Anthony Davis!

This team plays better with AD at the five spot. As soon as Andre Drummond sat down and Davis became the center, the Lakers went nuts!

The bad from the Los Angeles Lakers’ win:

The start…

The Los Angeles Lakers started slowly falling behind 15-4. It gave a smaller Golden State Warriors team confidence. Stephen Curry did not come out firing long-range bombs. It was Kent Bazemore, Andrew Wiggins and Juan Toscano-Anderson knocking down 3 pointers off of double teams. The Lakers eventually made things close by the end of the first quarter, but this is not how you start the playoffs.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis started slow!

Lake Show Life constantly states that the superstars have to be aggressive early and dominate. Neither did early. AD missed his first six shots and went 1-8 from the field in the first frame. LeBron James shot 1-5. There is no way possible that Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green should be causing defensive problems for these two. Nope.

Dennis Schroder…

To think Lakers fans were angry when this article was posted a couple of months ago.

This is how bad things were going for a while folks…

The story from the Los Angeles Lakers’ win:

Really…like we were going to pull up a Markieff Morris highlight!

Man, just press play folks…

The Los Angeles Lakers did not have a sense of urgency in this game.

It really didn’t matter what the outcome of the game was. The Lakers started their postseason against the Golden State Warriors and for two and a half quarters played it like it was a regular-season game.

Let’s have a moment of silence for Marc Gasol’s, Markieff Morris’, Montrezl Harrell’s and Talen Horton-Tucker’s minutes!

The Lakers just saw their playoff rotation in this game. Nuff said.

Dennis Schroder almost lost this game for the Los Angeles Lakers!

It’s one thing not to shoot well, which Schroder didn’t. It’s another thing for Stephen Curry to cook him on the defensive end to the point that Frank Vogel had to bench him.

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