The Lakers’ last title as NBA champions, number 17, came in the middle of the pandemic in the Disney bubble. The Lakers’ first in the In-Season Tournament, the “NBA Cup”, came in the Final Four in Las Vegas. The legendary franchise continues to make history. The experiment invented by the American League could not have had a happier ending for its promoters. A legendary franchise with a unique player at the helm, LeBron James, premiered the competition’s record. Although the determining player in the final was not number 23. It was his teammate Anthony Davis. He was responsible for burying the Indiana Pacers’ chances in the fourth quarter. The power forward shot up to 41 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks. LeBron, just over two weeks after turning 39, had 24 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists to decorate his four championship rings (2012, 2013, 2016 and 2020) with the first “Cup” and a new MVP trophy .
The final moved along the paths that the Lakers wanted. Haliburton, the sensation of the season, was not a major factor. The Indiana team’s point guard (20 points and 11 assists) has rightly become the great revelation so far this year. In the decisive phase of the In-Season Tournament he had confirmed it. He was vital against the Celtics and the Bucks. His numbers were scandalous. He averaged 26.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 14 assists. And what is more important: he had not committed a loss in the quarterfinals or the semifinal. At halftime in the final he left with three. Without his reference, scoring less than usual (the best attack in the League with 128.4 points each night), being inferior in rebounding and with poor shooting percentages, the Pacers were able to survive. They were true to themselves. They attacked without fear and the bench responded with the usual production.
For the Lakers, the only setback, something common on the other hand, was their mistake from the three-point line (2/13). LeBron’s team’s game plan was impeccable. Anthony Davis, the thermometer of the Californians, was decisive in the inside game. He appeared from the beginning and was the factor that allowed the Lakers to control and seal the duel. Lebron James took a while to warm up, but when he did he was the element that reaffirmed a good staging. The best argument coming off the bench was Austin Reaves. The outside is a strange element in today’s NBA. Perimeter player, white, without tattoos and with a physique in which his bangs draw more attention than his muscles. He alone was in charge of counteracting the influence of the Indiana bench. His 28 average points were the extra that LeBron and Davis needed.
Both took control of the final in the third quarter and the differences widened to eleven points, but… Davis began to feel muscle discomfort that was evident with an undisguisable limp. He had a little truce, but he stayed on track and continued producing. The Pacers were limited to surviving with Haliburton’s details and that was enough for them to reach the final stretch with options.
The Lakers responded to the threat (89-92) with the solidity of Davis. Forgetting his physical problems and focused on the game, the power forward is a determining factor on both sides of the court. He eliminated Turner, the Pacers’ best interior, and didn’t stop adding.
The bet on the “NBA Cup” could not have turned out better for the American League. Teams and stars have committed. The champion has been one of the legendary teams with the megastar of the 21st century, LeBron James. The finalist, the sensation of this course with a player, Haliburton, called to be a fundamental part of the business. But the show doesn’t stop and in that, no major competition is at the level of the NBA. In the middle of the final they were already selling the next big date, Christmas Day, with a match between the last two champions, Nuggets-Warriors, a Lakers-Celtics, a Mavericks-Suns…
109. Indiana Pacers (29+31+22+27): Haliburton (20), Brown (4), Hield (8), Toppin (13) y Turner (10) -quinteto titular- Mathurin (20), Jackson (10), Nesmith (15), McConnell (8), Walker (0), Brown (0), Wong (0), Shepard (0) y Tshiebwe (1).
123. Los Angeles Lakers (34+31+25+33): Russell (13), James (24), Reddish (9), Prince (6) and Davis (41) – starting quintet – Hachimura (0), Vanderbilt ( 0), Reaves (28), Christie (2), Hayes (0), Lewis (0) and Hood-Schifino (0).
Referees: Woodthrie, Crawford, and Rush. Removed Turner.
Incidents: 20,000 spectators at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Match corresponding to the final of the NBA In-Season Tournament.
2023-12-10 04:31:40
#NBA #Cup #Anthony #Davis #Lakers
