The Lakers have played 30 games, they are fourth in the Western Conference (20/10) and LeBron James has only played fourteen of the thirty meetings. An injury to the right sciatic nerve kept him out of the first month of competition. Since then plays less than ever (33:20), scores less than ever (20.2), rebounds less than ever (5.1) and assists less than ever (6.8). Today he turns 41 and despite all those “less than ever” no other player in the history of any sport offers a similar performance over the age of 40.23 of them in the NBA elite. “At 40 years old, it takes my body a little longer to get back into rhythm, but it’s good to feel a little like myself again,” he said after one of those games that no veteran has been able to sign.
LeBron remains a valuable asset on a perplexing team. He scored 36 points in the derby against the Clippers, he scored 29 against the Sixers and last night, in the victory against the Kings, he had 24 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists. Outstanding numbers even for a thirty-year-old. The problem is that the Lakers, no longer theirs but Doncic’s, are not fully fueled despite having had a couple of good winning streaks, one of five and another of seven wins. But the “laker” gear does not work as it should. “Since we got LeBron back, we haven’t been as organized offensively, there are too many random possessions,” and it’s not just anyone saying it, it’s the coach saying it, JJ Redickafter the painful loss on Christmas Day against the Rockets.
The Lakers surprisingly fell in the quarterfinals of the Emirates NBA Cup against the San Antonio Spurs without Wembanyama. There we saw the seams that the team has and they are not few. It is the fifth worst defense in the West, the tenth weakest in the League, the eighth team that steals the fewest balls, the fourth that places the fewest blocks and the least productive bench in the NBA. In this scenario, LeBron James has not yet opened his mouth, but he has Rich Paulhis powerful agent. And if the agent speaks it is as if James himself were speaking: “I don’t think the Lakers are candidates to win the ring this season. I don’t think they’re good enough to make it to the Western finals. “His style of play is easy to defend in the playoffs.” It didn’t stop there. He also sent a message to JJ Redick according to which LeBron should play more inside and Austin Reaves – a month out for a vital piece of the team, as much or more than LeBron himself – would have to come off the bench.
In the United States, the Lakers are accused of lacking physicality, speed and muscle to be able to grow from defense, but of course… a quintet with Doncic y Reaves on the perimeter it will not be the Berlin Wall. And if it is completed by a 41-year-old player with two interiors like Hachimura and DeAndre Aytonwho have never been a prodigy at the back, asking for more defense sounds like a pipe dream. In Los Angeles there are those who dream of the franchise hitting a ball before the market closes on February 5. Something like the departure of Reaves, some more elements and several draft choices in exchange for, say, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The reality is that in a wild Western Conference, with Thunder, Spurs and Nuggets ahead, the Lakers are by no means ruled out. LeBron’s determination to seek the fifth ring is still alive. His agent has confirmed that he will spend this entire season in LA and then we’ll see. Now, without being the franchise player, he is still the highest paid on the team with almost 45 million euros, six “kilos” more than Luka Doncic.
