LeBron Raymone James Sr is just over a month away from turning 38. He made his NBA debut on October 29, 2003. more than 19 years ago. He recently made headlines because he faced for the first time a player who was not born when he made his debut as a professional: the rookies for the Pistons Jalen Duren (November 18, 2003). While hiding his frustration at the terrible competitive situation of the Lakers, a permanent drain of energy since that almost miraculous find (as seen) that was the 2020 ring, He is chasing a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who, if health does not prevent him, he will surpass this season and will become the player with the most points in NBA history. Tonight, in San Antonio, he has taken another stride towards the very long shadow of the mythical 33 with his best game of the course, the second after five absences due to his already more or less recurring groin problems: 39 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 7/12 in triples. It is no longer in its best version, far from it. But it’s still amazing what he’s capable of doing in his year 20so many battles later.
Riding LeBron, and without an Anthony Davis who was low at the last minute due to muscular problems, the Lakers beat the Spurs again, whom they have beaten two nights in a row, both in Texas, and three in one week. A blessing, a lax stretch of the calendar, for a team that has taken the opportunity to fill a little barn that was shivering: there are five victories in six games, a long way before the road gets steep again in the coming nightsStarting with the surprising Pacers, who will visit them with the two players that by now many thought would already be in the Lakers, Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. It’s a 7-11 for Angelenos. A bad balance but at least not embarrassing. Two games now from play inout of the five worst positions in the classification. None of that deserves to open bottles of champagne. But, Heyis what touches point out as things are.
The Spurs went to the slaughterhouse as soon as they fell very short of rotation and volume in the zones. Poeltl and Sochan were injured, then Collins was sent off. Under the minimum, they lost (138-143) in a shootout without defenses that showed how forms (not the result) can change in 24 hours: 94-105 in a duel with much less success, on Friday. Popovich’s men shot more (24 extra shots), swept the rebounds (17-3 in attack catches), gave more assists (33-25), took more care of the ball (10-17 in turnovers) and ruled the paint ( 66-44) and the fast transition (39-20). And they lost. Something strange if you put all those numbers in the formula. After that mirage that was the initial 5-2, they have lost thirteen games out of the last fourteen. And eight in a row, one loss away from reaching his worst streak with Popovich and five of the worst in its history, 13 in 1989. The target, it is known, is Victor Wembanyama. The reconstruction via draft.
Playing at full speed is a blessing for the small point guard Tre Jones (23 points, 8 rebounds, 13 assists), accompanied by Vassell (20 points) and a Keldon Johnson who fueled up after a bad start (26+10 rebounds). The Spurs made 18 3-pointers with an excellent 18/37 but they didn’t put anything in front of a Lakers who have had enormous problems scoring and shooting all season but who they signed a fabulous shooting sheet: 58% total, 51% in triples (17/33) and 85% from the personal line. Without taking much weight, rather the opposite, Darvin Ham recognized that there are days when you do many things wrong but you score piecework. And with that it’s okay. Sometimes.
LeBron took a while to warm up, and he is already the youngest player and the oldest with a game of minus 35 points, 10 rebounds and 7 triples. He has a million marks like that, sure. Lonnie Walker scored 19 points for his ex, and Dennis Schröder finished with 21 and 6 assists. Among those three, a 13/21 in triples that made things easy while the losses in the Spurs piled up. The second unit received a very good contribution from the hard-working Gabriel (15+4), the always positive Reaves (16) and a Russell Westbrook who was good (11+7+6) and continues to adapt (with merit) to his low profile in substitute role. A change for the better that includes some highlights for his collection (extensive, one thing does not take away the other). This time a alley oops atomic with LeBron:
The Lakers are winning. It has a lot to do with the calendar and of course another losing streak may be just around the corner. That will surely be the case, at least as long as nothing moves from the offices. It is what it is. But at least they are winning, which of course is not little as things were, they do nothing (2-10). This time without Davis but with an excellent version of LeBron, who still has the rope to remember that he is one of the two best ever while taking steps towards Kareem’s 38,387 points. Less is left.
