The Los Angeles Lakers’ most recent victory was their most satisfying to date in the early part of the 2023-24 season, as they ended an 11-game losing streak against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Clippers.
It took overtime to get there, but the Lakers finally overcame their regular-season woes to beat the Clippers and improve to 3-2.
The Lakers appeared to be headed for another devastating defeat after allowing the Clippers to erase an eight-point deficit in the final two minutes, but the purple and gold remained strong.
LeBron James leads the team in scoring with 35 points on an efficient 13-of-19 shooting from the field.
However, James did his best in the fourth quarter by scoring some tough baskets to give the Lakers a slight lead.
Anthony Davis spoke about James’ heroics late in the game and how he was able to be so effective.
“He has been excellent throughout this first season,” Davis said.
“I think they stocked up on minutes early and then just let it flow throughout the fourth quarter.
“And he made the right plays.
He gets to the basket, his jumper was active in the mid-range tonight, creating reads for perimeter shooters when he double-teams or drives to the basket.
He told everyone the ball will come to you, I will find you, get ready to shoot.
Like the ball he was supposed to throw into the corner in front of our bench that he didn’t shoot and it got knocked out of bounds, he was yelling at him like “get ready to shoot!
” He’s clearly a guy who’s willing to go through with his numbers and it’s up to us to finish.
As we get more into rhythm, the guys become more rhythmic, more comfortable and know that those passes are coming, those shots are going to go in and that opens up the field, especially for him late in the game after some pick-and-roll plays.
-Rolls.
James has a knack for controlling games when he needs to, and his performance against the Clippers impressed players like Jayson Tatum.
Although the team wants to limit James’ minutes to keep him fresh, it will be difficult to retain him when they face close games.
