LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and the Los Angeles Lakers got even with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second game of their first-round series. For a team geared to make a deep postseason run, splitting their home games is important in securing their entry to the next round.
As the series heads to the Twin Cities, Purple and Gold fans are hopeful that their roster can return to LA with a 3-1 series lead for a possible gentleman’s sweep. However, Anthony Edwards’ stellar play in this series will make it difficult for the Purple and Gold.
Aside from Ant-Man’s obvious threat to the Lakers’ Finals aspirations, another surprising aspect of the Lakers’ roster seems to be threatening the team’s chances of winning both away games.
Analyst thinks LeBron James’ play in the series may threaten the Los Angeles Lakers’ chances of winning
King James continues to defy logic as he remains one of the Lakers’ most important players at 40. The Purple and Gold’s 85-94 win over the Timberwolves saw him put up 21 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and one block.
While these numbers are exemplary for any NBA player, one analyst believes that James needs to do more to help the Lakers break past the Wolves and make a convincing run for the Larry O’Brien trophy. He doesn’t think the future Hall of Famer is playing to the levels he knows he could reach.
CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn thinks that an injury is affecting LeBron from playing his best basketball:
Remember, James hurt his groin in an early-March loss to Boston. He’s averaged just 21.7 points per game since. He’s getting to the line less. He’s making fewer 3s. He looks less explosive. To some extent, that’s affecting him on defense as well. James did a lot of things well in Game 2, but Randle scored 27 points and James was his primary defender. On multiple occasions late, he and Reaves failed to connect on lobs that, while not routine by any stretch of the imagination, were highlight dunks for James three months ago.
If his theory of LeBron not being at his physical best is true, then the Lakers can thank their lucky stars that Doncic is donning a Lakers jersey. James has been instrumental for the Purple and Gold for years, and his time at the top has taken a toll on his body.
He’s no longer the incredible physical specimen that terrified the league in the 2010s, but the fact that he’s still averaging around 20 points a game is still impressive for a player of his caliber.
Whether his current run of form is going to be enough to will the Lakers to the Finals is an entirely different conversation, though.
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