LeBron James has reached the Conference Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers and is reaching for his fifth NBA title. He showed what he’s still capable of in his 20th season against the Golden State Warriors – all the more amazing when you consider that the season started ill-fated.
The eagerly awaited duel between the two undoubtedly biggest stars that the NBA currently has to offer ended with a warm hug just behind the line of three: On the one hand Steph Curry, four titles, best shooter in history. On the other LeBron James: also four titles, best…player in history?
At least the list of arguments doesn’t get any shorter, because while Curry and his Golden State Warriors were finally able to put the title defense mission to rest and a little later contritely headed towards the dressing room, LeBron was allowed to give winner interviews. For the 41st time after winning a playoff series: new NBA record.
122:101 the Warriors were ironed out, there could be talk of tension at most until halftime. “We defended well and if we can do that we can be extremely good,” said James. “Today we were highly concentrated for almost the entire 48 minutes.”
That’s why the hunt for the title continues for the 38-year-old. LeBron James is far from enough.
LeBron James vs. the Warriors: A master of his craft
You have to repeat it again because it’s so hilarious: LeBron is 38 years old. He could very well be the sire of the upcoming rookie class – and if he has his way soon he will also serve in the NBA together with his son Bronny James.
The ravages of time are also gnawing on him here and there, after all he has already delivered one or the other rather moderate game in this postseason. He’s no longer a larger-than-life athlete like he was in his prime: there were just two dunks in six games against the Warriors’ not always particularly impressive defense, compared to 18 in the 2016 finals.
But he’s still a brilliant strategist, able to carefully plan his power and attack his opponent’s weaknesses with surgical precision. And he knew the importance of the game: a game 7 abroad could have been a Herculean task. So James arguably delivered his best game of the postseason: 30 points on 10/14 from the field, 9 rebounds and 9 assists, only 2 turnovers. And while the legs of the Splash Brothers were getting heavier on the other side, he only allowed himself a one-minute break until garbage time.
Instead, he took aim at the ailing Andrew Wiggins, refueled again and again to the basket, took 11 free throws and also converted 2/3 from a distance. “We don’t have many players on the team who have been in closeouts like this,” he explained. That’s why he had to act aggressively, but at the same time efficiently and strategically. Mission accomplished! “Remarkable,” said head coach Darvin Ham. “He played the whole series flat out and had his fingers in everything.”
LeBron no longer has to be the best Laker on the floor. But there is Anthony Davis or one or the other role player who jumps into the breach. But he can still be. Even on the biggest possible stage.
LeBron James: Playoff Series Stats vs. Golden State Warriors
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers’ difficult season
Now that LeBron is four wins short of getting into his eleventh (!) NBA Finals, the Lakers’ season so far is blurring a bit in the rear-view mirror. James, a fit Davis, plus a revolving door through which it feels like one or two role-players in top form slip through in every game – that’s quite enough for the title contender in a season without an absolute super team. In this respect, one shouldn’t be too surprised by the Lakers’ entry into the Conference Finals, right?
Well, when you consider that the team started the season with two wins from the first 12 games, with a rookie coach Ham, and that such a weak start has only been enough to make it to the Conference Finals three times so far – then perhaps. Especially since the squad looked very different in the fall, with Kendrick Nunn, Patrick Beverley, Talen Horton-Tucker – and of course Russell Westbrook, whose season with the Lakers was an absolute disaster for everyone involved.
“It was a challenging year, to put it that way, but we didn’t give up,” Ham said after defeating Golden State. The front office worked diligently on the roster before the trade deadline: Out with Russ and Co., for which Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt, among others, were brought in. No home runs on paper, definitely not, but suddenly the squad clicked. “We stayed positive and then our newcomers fitted in well.”
Nevertheless, the road to the playoffs was a long one, especially since LeBron and AD were also struggling with injuries. But a run at the end of the regular season led the Lakers into the play-in game against Minnesota as a 7-seed – and just over a month later the team is among the top 2 in the West and is still unbeaten at home in the postseason.
LeBron James in the playoffs: Denver is not the target
“I had the feeling that if we get the chance to strengthen our squad around me and AD and make it more balanced, we can start a run,” LeBron looked back at the difficult start to the season. As the sixth player in league history, he has reached his twelfth conference finals, losing only once: in 2009 with the Cleveland Cavaliers against Orlando.
Against the Nuggets, who have blossomed into the number one title candidate at the latest with the victory over Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns, the Lakers are again without home advantage and are likely to play the outsider role with the bookmakers. But Purple and Gold is far from satisfied with what has been achieved. “Our expectations go far beyond simply participating in the conference finals,” emphasized Davis.
Faith is also present in the Lakers second guard. “When you play against players like Bron and AD who have already won titles, you always believe in your chance,” said Austin Reaves, who had a brilliant 23 point in Game 6. However, James emphasized the great respect for Denver around Nikola Jokic: “I know what they’re capable of. If we’re not careful, they can give us one.”
NBA Playoffs: Western Conference Finals
(1) Denver Nuggets vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers
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