Wow, I really didn’t expect this from the Lakers. The Los Angeles Lakers are slowly but surely clawing back into the West playoff picture as they are now just three games out of Play-In Round with their win over Portland.
The Lakers might be in the midst of pulling off one of the most improbably and unlikely early-season recoveries in the past ten years. To start the season on such a horrific note by going 2-10, having massive on-court turmoil with Russell Westbrook and his starting position, injuries and poor play from AD and Lebron James, and then winding up bottom of the NBA standings for a time would not only be devastating for an NBA team with title aspirations, but might also break them entirely.
Better teams have crumbled under far less pressure. Yet, this Lakers team did the unthinkable as they actually came together as a group and accepted their roles on the team.
Russell Westbrook has accepted the 6th man spot and has thrived in said role, posting an impressive 15.0 PPG, 5.2 REB, and 7.2 AST from the bench. Anthnoy Davis has turned back into the beast he was in New Orleans as he has dominated the league gain by leading the Lakers to win six of their last eight games with 26.3 PPG, 12.7 RPG (a career high if it holds), and 56.9% shooting from the field (also a career high if it holds).
Moreover, the Lakers role players, such as Austin Reaves (10.8 PPG, 3.3 REB, 2.1 AST), Lonnie Walker (16.6 PPG, 2.4 REB, 1.9 AST), Patrick Beverley (4.2 PPG, 3.9 REB, 2.7 AST), Dennis Schroder (8.4 PPG, 1.7 REB, 3.6 AST), have also stepped up in this good stretch of games. Yes, these aren’t mind blowing stats that’ll carry the Lakers to the NBA Finals, but they are good enough to support LBJ, AD, and Westbrook.
Plus, these players have been instrumental in the games during Lebron James’ injury.
And that does leave me with the King himself as even though he’s been out for an extended amount of time, he’s still has produced All-Star stats. Putting up 25.8 PPG, 8.6 REB, and 6.3 AST, Lebron James has been a huge catalyst in the Lakers wins against teams like Portland since his return.
Against the Trail Blazers, James had 31 PTS, 7 REB, and 8 AST to lead the Lakers in points and give them the victory over a team that is directly competing with them for the Play-In Round. Now, the Trail Blazers were without Damien Lillard, so this game would have been a lot closer than the 128-109 score line showed if he played, but I still think this is a tone-setting victory for the Lakers.
They lost a nail-biting game against the Pacers, who are also in a similar position to themselves out in the East, a few days ago in which they lead by 17 points, so this victory must feel like vindication for their hard work these past few weeks.
We’ll have to see if they can continue this streak and overtake teams like the Trail Blazers for a Play-In spot, but this recent stretch and LBJ’s return should have Lakers fans excited.
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