The Los Angeles Lakers are now well beyond recovery after starting the season in the worst way possible. The amount of criticism they received from their “loyal” fans was outrageous. Still, the squad continues to work on the court trying to win back the respect that should have been behind their name in the beginning. However, another year has passed for LeBron James to earn his fifth and possibly final ring.
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the decisions the franchise has made over the past few seasons, especially after trading some of their best assets for assets they think are better. Alex Caruso is having a really good year defensively, and DeMar DeRozan is among MVP talks going to the Lakers. But maybe it’s all worth it in the long run?
LeBron James reveals long-term plans with LA Lakers
To say that LeBron James has had a hard time dealing with the struggling Lakers would be an understatement. The All-Star captain suffered a few injuries early in the season but has carried the team on his shoulders since December 2021. King was heavily criticized for preferring Russell Westbrook over several better players and also for his roster stacking. Many NBA fans don’t. Many are starting to believe that the veteran won’t be resigning from the Lakers after entering free agency.
In a post-game interview after losing to the Dallas Mavericks and being dominated by Luka Doncic, King had a few words to share with the press: “I’ll ride or die sticking with the Lakers. If they boo, I’m with them… if they cheer me up, I’m with them.” As he will hint during the interview, the player is committed to helping this team win. He has repeatedly said that they made mistakes in their game and were willing to regroup after losses to work on winning the next one.
Los Angeles Lakers v Dallas Mavericks Highlights
The Lakers showed signs of being great after trailing 21 points and taking a 6-point lead over the Mavericks in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks somehow took over to win the game at the last moment. The match ended with a score of 109-104. Luke Doncic 25 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, Jalen Brunson 22 points and Dorian Finney-Smith 16 points and 9 rebounds in the Mavs.
LeBron James led the Lakers once again with 26 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 10-18 shots and three shots from behind the arc. Carmelo Anthony had 20 points followed by 17 points, followed by Malik Monk, who was a big asset for the team on offense. The Lakers shot better than Dallas 45.1% from the field, 41.2% from the three-pointer and 80% from the field. Defensive deficiencies in paint have been evident since Anthony Davis’ absence.
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“Until you crush me, cut off my head, bury me 12 feet below, we stand a chance”: LeBron James appears fully focused on getting the Lakers to the 2022 NBA playoffs