After a disappointing first season in Los Angeles, LeBron James is taking the Lakers to the NBA Finals. James was brilliant in Saturday’s close-out win against the Nuggets, posting 38 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists for his 27th postseason triple double. He ended any hopes of another Denver miracle with 16 points in the final quarter, including nine straight in the closing minutes to put the game out of reach.
As teammates and opponents marveled at how James is able to keep his game at such a high level at age 35, he talked to reporters, including Bill Oram of The Athletic, about the criticism he took last year and how it inspired him.
“I heard all the conversations and everything that was said about why did I decide to come to L.A. — the reason I came to L.A., it was not about basketball,” he said. “All those conversations, just naysayers and things of that nature. I understood that, with the season I had last year and my injury, it just gave them more sticks and more wood to throw in the fire to continue to say the things that they would say about me. But it never stopped my journey and never stopped my mindset and never stopped by goal.”
There’s more Lakers news this morning:
- The offseason trade that brought Anthony Davis from New Orleans enabled L.A. to quickly transform from missing the playoffs to being the best team in the West. Davis, who also stood out Saturday with a 27-5-3 line, turned out to be the perfect complement to LeBron. “This is the reason why I wanted to be a teammate of his and why I brought him here,” James said (Twitter link from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype). “I wanted him to see things that he hadn’t seen before in this league. To be able to come through for him meant a lot for me personally.”
- A season like no other for the Lakers included the tragic death of franchise legend Kobe Bryant in a January helicopter crash. James took time Saturday to remember Bryant, writes Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. “He sent me a text right away and said, ‘Welcome, brother. Welcome to the family.’ That was a special moment because at the time, Laker faithful wasn’t (fully in on me). A lot of people were saying, ‘Well, we might not want LeBron at this point in his career,’ and, ‘Is he right? Is he going to get us back (to the Finals)?’ So to hear from him and get his stamp of approval, it meant a lot. I don’t ever question myself, but when it’s coming from Kobe, it definitely meant a lot.”
- Frank Vogel only became the Lakers’ coach after they missed on their first two targets, but he turned out to be an ideal leader for the team, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Vogel said the mystique surrounding the franchise made him want the job. “For me it was just, they were the cool team out West,” he said. “I didn’t really leave the East Coast, I didn’t travel much as a kid or anything like that. So, it was like a foreign country thinking about California. And they just had palm trees and sunshine, just had a flair to them that was celebrity like, you know? And the way their team played represented that. It was a show on the basketball court, it wasn’t just a sporting event.”
On TV you can see there is a 5 feet Asian lady who is Lakers lead players trainer
Her name is Nina Hsieh
How can 5 feet lady train 7 feet players?
I once saw a five feet lady. Had to pay an extra $3 to enter that tent.
Sillivan, that’s because half of all training is 90% mental. The other half is 10% physical. You’ll find out of that 10% physical that everyone has is speed jumping and quicking. You need 30% time spent on shooting skills 40% time spent on dribbling ball handling and passing. Vision and willing to pass comes naturally as part of the first 10%. That’s how a five foot Asian lady can train 7 Foot players. By the way she can also train 6-3 and 6- 7 players because really they are fairly gifted in the 90% being half mental aspect.
Quite an absurd non-sequitur, imo. Can’t say I didn’t laugh, though.
Got tired of talking sense to the writer of the original post. Thought I might give this a try. Used a little humor, some info gleaned from the original post and blended it together into a mosh of nonsensical babble.
Gary way to try it again lol! I like how that first post ran out of gas and you didn’t even bother adding in the small connecting words, just gave it another try.
Futile sincerity is also funny. Sincerity proven by burying the punch line… *she can train six footers too*. I cannot claim credit for that visual. So many non-sequiturs.
The $3 tent may have been the post needing explanation. I am not seeing them at fairs anymore. Had to be there, kids.
Um, because you don’t teach height. I was taught military history by a 65 year old woman that was as far from a soldier as humanly possible, but she knew her stuff.
So what u are saying is. The lakers needed help and won another lopsided trade to make them better. Never seen that before.
LeBron haters have nothing. First it was “he can’t win in the west”. Well he just went through the west at 12-3 and now it will surely be another excuse.
Let’s see him finish the job, then we can give him props.
LBJ is in his 10th finals in 17!!!
Magic 9 finals in 13!!!
Jordan only 6 finals in 15!!!
MJ 6-0 in those finals
Yeah but he failed miserably to reach the finals 9 times… LBJ only 7 in 2 more years, go figure!
Dusty let’s see if you give him props if they win.
Still think Clippers would of beat Lakers. Unfortunately they thought Denver was in the way. Nuggets have grown up. They will be better next yr. West is going to be a battle next yr. Gotta say Bron always shows up for playoffs. If Clippers had him instead of Kawhi or PG they’d be in Finals. AD is a force and Bron knows how to use that. He’s the ultimate team player. Who wants to win more than anyone on court. And he will do whatever it is to maximize his team to win. Few players can do that . It gave that combination of talent and IQ and Will. I was rooting for Clipper. But I gotta give Bron his due. He will go all out for this one. Cause it will only get harder from now on. Hoping Heat win. AD against Bam is going to be epic. Bam can absolutely play him inside or out. Should be major fun.
No, the Clippers would not have beat the Lakers. How can you seriously say that after their entire team proved to be soft in big moments. Espically their bench “depth” that supposedly made them better than the Lakers. Face it, the Clips are not built for the playoffs. Paul George has proven this over and over.
Doubtful, but the Heat should beat the Lakers.
Should? Why?
I’m with you on that. The Heat have the perfect combination of Youth and Veterans. Toughness and skill. Great defense decent rebounding and excellent shooting. The Heat have it all and most importantly have the great coaching.
They are built to win right now and acquiring Jimmy Butler was the final touch. They are ready to rock and roll right through the Lakers with toughness grit and skill. Heat in six.
Go Heat!