Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons on a series takeover in Game 3 over Suns

Jae Crowder was an unwilling participant in an NBA public service announcement…Average players should leave superstars alone!

Trash talking is the essence of basketball. The Lake Show Life comment section (Named the Underground!) is a place where readers get together and talk trash about NBA basketball. But there are levels to talking trash. Usually the ones that are disrespectful (Oh this site has one!) or have no clue usually gets clowned.

On the Staples Center floor last night, that guy that was disrespectful was Jae Crowder. Sure LeBron James hasn’t played at his usual level in this series, but Jae Crowder has been terrible!  Let’s take care of the tale of the tape because it’s deeper than stats.

• LeBron James finished with 21 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds.
• Jae Crowder finished with 9 points (2-9 shooting!), 3 rebounds and 2 assists (Ejected!). 

Now LeBron wasn’t playing well in the first half. His energy level was similar to Game 1. In Game 2, he still didn’t attack the rim like fans were used to. But Crowder was struggling from the field missing his first seven shots (Including six 3-pointers!), before finally hitting a jumper with 6:43 left in the game.

Then Jae Crowder became this game’s guest of…”When keeping it real goes wrong”!

To truly understand how LeBron embarrassed Crowder, you must see the smile on his face in the upper highlight before he pulled the spin move for the layup. Then look at Andre Drummond mimic LeBron’s move at the same time in the lower highlight!

LeBron didn’t let up on Crowder either. Soon after, James was waving his hand over his face telling Crowder his game was stinking. When they both ran down the floor, LeBron baited Crowder into an offensive foul. James ran sprinting down the floor laughing.

The only thing LeBron did that was worse than abusing Crowder is what he did to Mikal Bridges.

Lake Show Life message to the rest of the NBA playoff teams (Especially the Clippers!), leave this dude alone and don’t talk trash to him. Show the man some respect.

Dennis Schroder’s play has been inconsistent since returning from COVID-19 protocols. The Lakers have been monitoring his minutes to help him get his legs under him. Looks like he might be close. Read on to see what he did!