2023-04-28 11:23:03
By taking Game 1 in Memphis and getting the job done at home, the Lakers are in the perfect position to wrap up the streak in Los Angeles tonight. And precisely, when it comes to closing a series, LeBron James is rather comfortable, as evidenced by his career record.
The summary of Game 5
Currently in his 16th Playoffs campaign, LeBron James has known it all in the NBA. And tonight, around 4:30 a.m. at the Crypto.com Arena, the King will play a 52nd game in which he has the opportunity to send his opponent on vacation. His record on the first 51? 39 wins – 12 losseswith stats hovering around 28 points – 9 rebounds – 7 assists.
You understood, the King is not the type to play with his food.
When it comes to driving the point home and dashing the hopes of the opposing team, most of the time he does it. So certainly, James missed a first opportunity in Memphis the other day during Game 5, where he missed out with a performance at only 15 points and 5/17 shooting. But this Friday, LeBron will be back in front of the Los Angeles public, with the will to erase this bad match and end it for good.
Entering Game 5, LeBron’s teams were 39-11 in closeout games — the best record in playoff history. James averaged 28/9/7 in such games.
After an uncharacteristic 15-point, 5-turnover outing, James vowed he’ll be better in Game 6. LA is going to need it. https://t.co/bf7gzLEGev pic.twitter.com/DmTjwuOYhy
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 27, 2023
At 38, LeBron James inevitably knows less well shots. Moments when he looks his age. It happens, even at the King. But most often in these cases, he comes back in force just behind to return the blows to Father Time. Game 6 tonight could be further proof of this, much to the chagrin of a Grizzlies team still hoping to snatch a Game 7 from Memphis.
“Tonight I sucked, I will be better in Game 6.”
– LeBron, after Game 5
Additional source of motivation for James and more generally his team: it is the first time since the King’s arrival in Los Angeles in 2018 that the Lakers have the opportunity to win a series in front of their home crowd of the Crypto Arena. In 2019 there was no Playoffs for them, in 2020 there was the anti-COVID bubble, in 2021 the Lakers were taken out 4-2 by the Suns, and last year LeBron watched the PO from his sofa.
Brief, tonight is the night for LeBron and his buddies, who would probably like to avoid Game 7 against the best home team of the entire NBA season.
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