It is after a back-to-back very tough (against the Suns and a hard-fought victory), but the Los Angeles Lakers (34-29) continue to live on that line between illusion and a certain caution. They beat the leader of the West (116-104), the Oklahoma City Thunder, with some solidity and continue to claim in a Western Conference far from generalized regularity. No, it depends on the streaks beyond the champions Denver Nuggets (they seem to be the ones who can give the most basketball) and the Lakers must lead the way despite being far from safe positions. The perks of the job, one supposes.
Davis tries to slap Giddey.
Because for many weeks that did not exist in Los Angeles. Those incendiary statements from LeBron said it all. “On any given night we can beat any NBA team, but any night any NBA team can kick our asses.” What is our record? 24-25. Less than 50%? There you have it,” he said about 15 games ago. Things have changed. And the last 10-4 streak changes dynamics. That’s basketball.
Against the important teams of the West (except for the Nuggets, who they don’t beat and it will be very difficult to do so) the Lakers raise the level: 3-1 to Oklahoma, 3-1 to the Clippers and 3-2 with the Suns. There are notable things, although the search for regularity should not be optional. The new Thunder leaders were punished by a huge moment from D’Angelo Russell. He chained three triples, turned the game upside down and they couldn’t get down from there. His 26 points (53% TC), 6 rebounds and 3 assists put him in a privileged place. Only Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant, all when talking about gold and purplehave a statistical line like this accompanied by five or more three-pointers scored.
Russell, after one of his triples.
It was his day. Everyone looked for him and he accompanied a good Anthony Davis (24 points and 12 rebounds) and the always correct LeBron James (19 + 11) with his volcanic finish. But it was ‘DLo’ day. “He has one of those moments where he can throw it any way he can… he’s going to get it in the basket. It’s great to see him having fun. He is very talented and we need him to play like that. Let it be at that level,” claimed Darvin Ham, Lakers coach. As a third sword, unbeatable if it is good.
We need ‘Dlo’ to always play like this
Dervin Ham
Almost everything fits if they are good, and it seems that the Lakers are better off with a big team than one from the bottom of the table. For the Thunder, who were flying with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (he was still the best, but with 20 points he was far from his maximum), the defense made life impossible. And the attack did the rest. “The mete 30 [Shai] everyone, so making things difficult for him was the goal. We were all on the same rope, following the same formula,” said D’Angelo Russell himself.
2024-03-05 06:38:17
#Lakers #knock #leader #West #time #gold #purple #illusion
