LeBron James has quite literally seen more in his career than any other NBA player. Having the most games played of any individual in league history comes with the perks of experiencing just about anything the NBA could throw at him. That is partly why the Los Angeles Lakers were able to comfortably handle the Houston Rockets with an exciting 107-98 Game 1 win on Saturday.
James became a passing maestro from the jump, setting up each of his teammates to thrive alongside him. LeBron ended up finishing with 19 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds, two steals and one block in the win. After the night was done, the Lakers star made it clear there was no tricking him.
"The only thing that's predetermined in my game is how I prepare. ... Once I get out there, it's all about reading, reacting. I understand the situations. I've been in every situation you can ever imagine as a basketball player. So, there's nothing that can surprise me."
James talked about needing to give the Lakers a little bit of everything in his current role. LeBron was more than successful in doing just that in Game 1. The Rockets will get a couple of days to adjust before Game 2 on Tuesday. Whatever new wrinkles they bring, don't expect the all-time great to get caught off guard.
Rockets will have a tough time challenging computer-like LeBron James
What can sometimes get lost in being blown away by James' incredible athleticism and longevity is just how polished his basketball IQ has always been, and continues to be. LeBron is right at the top of the list when it comes to the most special basketball minds the NBA has ever seen.
His former teammate, Iman Shumpert, recently compared James to ChatGPT. The 2016 NBA champion said that whatever question you can ask LeBron about the league, he can always answer it.
Before the series started, Ime Udoka discussed wanting to mix up defensive coverages on James. If the idea there was to never let him get comfortable, that may be wishful thinking after all the mileage, film, and situational awareness that LeBron has gained over the years.
The Rockets have a ton of athletic and capable defenders to deliver different defensive looks against James. Lakers fans will hope their star remains completely unphased like he was in Game 1.
Whatever preparation the Rockets can do to try and disrupt James for Game 2, the human processing system should be ready to counter. As long as the rest of the Lakers keep up, they could quickly take clear command of the first-round matchup with a 2-0 series lead.
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