Summary List Placement LeBron James sensed the finish line and carried the Los Angeles Lakers over it on Saturday. James scored 38 points with 16 rebounds and 10 assists to help the Lakers eliminate the Denver Nuggets and make the NBA Finals. It’s James’ 10th overall Finals appearance and his ninth in 10 years. James’ […]
LeBron James blew away his head coach after scoring 9 points in 2 minutes to send the Lakers to the Finals — Boston!
Starting Dwight Howard was a major reason why the Los Angeles Lakers now have a 3-1 lead over the Denver Nuggets.
LeBron credited Dwight Howard for playing like ‘a beast’ in Game 4 — LeBron Wire
While the Denver Nuggets are the only team in NBA History with multiple 3-1 comebacks in the same postseason, the Lakers are still in the more enviable position, being only one win away from the first NBA Finals the Lakers Franchise has seen 2010. A big reason, aside from the play of their leaders, was the substitution Frank Vogel made in the starting lineup before Game 4.https://widgets.thescore.com/embeds/d7e692d6-7228-4e21-b791-9d65f701db1c/57CA76541E2D01E6AE9F67156D818BAC
Dwight Howard was excellent for the Lakers in Game 4, posting 12 points and 11 rebounds in 23 minutes. His play impressed LeBron James, as well, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“Dwight was a beast,” said LeBron James. “Gave us opportunities when we missed shots … he was cleaning glass both offensively and defensively. Got us put-backs and was able to control the paint. We know we got smashed in the rebounding category in Game 3, so we wanted to do a better job in that. Dwight brought that physical presence. It was great for our ballclub.”
LeBron has been on the other side of great performances from Howard in the playoffs before and he sounds pretty thrilled to have Dwight as a weapon helping him get one step closer to his 4th NBA Championship.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he spoke with LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard about the Lakers’ and Clippers’ short-lived reticence to continue play in the bubble during the players’ work stoppage in late-August. The Milwaukee Bucks’ decision on Aug. 26 to sit out their playoff game with the Orlando Magic in protest of the police…
Adam Silver says he talked with LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard about Lakers, Clippers choice to play on — Daily News
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — If Denver coach Mike Malone and LeBron James are friends now, it wasn’t always that way. In fact, Malone said, it was probably his willingness to be hard on the budding Cleveland star that helped earn him respect. For five years as a Cavaliers assistant under Mike Brown, Malone was…
Denver’s Mike Malone pushed LeBron James to be better in Cleveland — Daily News
Editor’s note: This is the Friday Sept. 4 edition of the Purple & Bold Lakers newsletter from reporter Kyle Goon, who is among the few reporters in the country with a credential inside the NBA bubble. To receive the newsletter in your inbox, sign up here. LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — When he was asked about Chris…
LeBron James’ sendoff for Chris Paul, the architect of the NBA’s restart — Press Telegram
[ad_1] LeBron James has been in a league of his own throughout his NBA career. So it wasn’t surprising that he pounced on an ESPN analyst’s suggestion Thursday that he was a star sidekick ― like Scottie Pippen was to Michael Jordan ― when James won two titles with Miami. ESPN’s Jay Williams made the […]
LeBron James Fires Back After ESPN Analyst Compares Him To Scottie Pippen — The Latest News
Mental health of the players in the NBA has become an even more consistent topic inside the bubble.
LeBron James admits to wishing he could leave NBA bubble a few times — LeBron Wire
The mental health of all the NBA players has become a hot button topic this week after Paul George spoke about his own struggles with anxiety and depression, as well as the Milwaukee Bucks-led walkout earlier in the week in reaction to the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In the immediate aftermath of the NBA work stoppage on Wednesday, there were reports that LeBron James was considering leaving. After closing out the Blazers on Saturday night, LeBron opened up about his mental state, saying it wasn’t the first time he thought “I’ve got to get the hell out of here.”
Lakers’ LeBron James on whether he was ready to leave bubble after Bucks refused to play: “I’ve had numerous nights & days thinking about leaving. I think everyone has, including you (media) guys. There’s not 1 person who hasn’t (thought), “I’ve got to get the hell out of here.’” pic.twitter.com/qKIZzlzRp1
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) August 30, 2020
James has been more open over the past week in talking about his own struggles inside the bubble. He shared how much he misses his family on Instagram on Saturday, with he and the Lakers closing in on their second full month inside the NBA bubble.
The Lakers will have a few days more to rest as they wait to play the winner of the Rockets-Thunder series, which the Rockets now lead 3-2 heading into Monday’s Game 6.
Editor’s note: This is the Tuesday, Aug. 25 edition of the Purple & Bold Lakers newsletter from reporter Kyle Goon, who is among the few reporters with a credential inside the NBA bubble. To receive the newsletter in your inbox, sign up here. LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — It should have been about basketball. It should have…
For Lakers’ LeBron James, Jacob Blake’s shooting is bigger issue than a big Game 4 victory — Press Telegram
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP) Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is helped off the…
LeBron James scores 38 as Lakers knock out Blazers in Game 3, take 2-1 series lead — Daily News
The Los Angeles Lakers star scored 1,700 points for the 17th straight season, joining fellow Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only one.
LeBron James scores 1,500 points for 17th straight season, tying Kareem — LeBron Wire
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — There might come a time when Rockets-Lakers is a playoff series, pitting some of the NBA’s most vibrant stars and two extremely divergent basketball philosophies at odds. Thursday’s game between those teams offered very little insight into what that matchup might look like. Without LeBron James or any discernible sense…
Without LeBron James, Lakers fizzle against Rockets — Daily News
The Lakers’ offense has stumbled so far in the bubble.
LeBron James says Lakers have off-court issues, out vs. Rockets (groin) — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
The Lakers’ offense has stumbled so far in the bubble.
LeBron gave a weird answer about this. He agreed that he and the Lakers were looking for a rhythm on offense. And then he said: “It’s just some things that you can’t control that’s here, that I really don’t want to talk about, that’s off the floor.”
Mike Trudell of the Lakers:
LeBron James (sore right groin) is out tonight against Houston. Alex Caruso (left neck muscle spasms) is questionable.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) August 6, 2020
Four Lakers are listed as probable tonight: Anthony Davis (sprained right ankle); Markieff Morris (left hip contusion); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (right ribs contusion); Dwight Howard (sore right knee).
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) August 6, 2020
Was LeBron referring to his groin injury? I wouldn’t call that an off-court issue, but maybe he would.
LeBron knows how to work the media. This subtle comment will draw attention and sets up LeBron to look better if he leads the Lakers through this mysterious issue.
Without more context, it’s easy for imaginations to wander – especially about a team with Dwight Howard, Dion Waiters and J.R. Smith. The Lakers could be facing a major hurdle. Or a minor nuisance. Who knows? But the unknown is scary.
It’ll be difficult to detect the Lakers’ progress during remaining seeding games. The Lakers have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, and without a home-court advantage in the NBA Finals, there’s no reason to chase the NBA’s best overall record. That’s why LeBron missing tonight’s game against the Rockets could be mostly precautionary.Tags: Dion Waiters, Dwight Howard, J.R. SmithLeave a comment
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