3. LeBron James is playing well
After suffering a severely sprained ankle in late March that pretty much torpedoed his season and the Lakers’ title hopes, LeBron James is looking good to start the 2021-22 campaign.
On opening night he shot 13-of-23 from the field and 5-of-11 from downtown en route to 34 points, despite having to deal with defensive dynamo Draymond Green.
On Friday night, he had 25 points and was hot again from the land of plenty, hitting 5-of-9 3-point attempts.
He is showing no signs of mobility issues in the ankle that the Atlanta Hawks’ Solomon Hill dove into last season.
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Another positive I’m seeing from James is his mid-range game. He’s never been a player who has utilized the pull-up jumper from the mid-range area throughout his storied career.
But so far this season he is taking such shots – and hitting them with regularly.
In recent seasons, James has also added a fadeaway/fallaway jumper from the post that is shades of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Larry Bird, not to mention a thing of beauty. He has been shooting and making it with regularity again to start this campaign.
The man that some (as well as himself) call “King James” is the least of the Lakers’ concerns right now.