Just as I expect him to play fewer minutes in games that are totally lost, and/or games where the team starts too slow, or isn’t able to make a push to make things close enough to snatch away a win if a team happens to let their foot so far off the gas for long enough to let the Lakers back into it.īut, in the absence of those situations, LeBron going out there and trying to put up the types of numbers his team needs in order to try to win games doesn’t bother me at all. Now, could he sit out a game here or there? Yes - and if his knee continues to bother him (especially on the 2nd night of back-to-backs), I fully expect him to. And while winning is the most preferred version of that, a great player showing us why he’s great in the first place is at least a decent consolation prize. This is, after all, an entertainment league. And, if nothing else, him giving us a scoring barrage, or a highlight (or three) in a game in which his team is clearly outgunned and overmatched is something to remind us of why we watch in the first place. Or at least the closest version of that you’re going to get in an otherwise depressing campaign. There’s a direct correlation between those individual pursuits and the team’s larger goals, and the numbers bear that out.īeyond that, watching LeBron go off is, you know, fun. With that, I don’t see anything wrong with actively rooting for Bron to go out there and chase all the numbers he can get. This team simply isn’t talented (or healthy) enough as currently constructed for them to be competitive night-to-night otherwise. Notice a theme here? The surest way for the Lakers to win a game right now is for LeBron to be otherworldly from a statistical standpoint. In those contests the team did win, here are LeBron’s stat lines: Since the All-Star break, and going into the Wizards game, the Lakers have only won three games in 12 tries. After all, how do you think he’s so close to leading the league in scoring or putting up some of the boxscores that he is?Īll of which brings me to the more important point here. And, usually, we get even more than that. But, if we’re being honest, even the worst LeBron games offer at least one flurry of fantastic play that has us on the edge of our seats and eager to see what he’ll do next. I’m also more than aware of the times where LeBron isn’t at his best, and how those types of games can feel especially dispiriting. I certainly understand the frustration that comes from losing games or from watching the team as a whole struggle. And just as with those teams, I’m a firm believer in appreciating great players for as long as we’re able to - particularly one like James, who is approaching two decades in the league and is much closer to the end of his career than the beginning. Just as I’ve seen great teams in my life, I’ve also been fortunate to see all of the great players who powered them. LeBron only wants to pad his stats! He wants to win a scoring title! After notching his 10,000th assist in a recent game - becoming the only player in the history of the NBA with at least 10,000 career points, rebounds, and assists - he has Kareem’s all-time scoring record in his sights! If Bron can’t win at the team level, he’ll sure as hell win on an individual one!Īnd, to this I say: “So the hell what if that is the case?” Quickly, though, these thoughts have transformed from questions to accusations. Should he be playing as much as he is? Is it time for him to sit out games? Why is he playing so many minutes, particularly in games the team is struggling to even stay competitive in, much less win?
I’ve made my peace with that.Īs this season comes to a close, then, there’s been a lot of chatter about LeBron James and what his goals really are (or should be) over this final stretch of games.
A wonderful win in Toronto can obscure that temporarily, but there’s just not enough time left for the Lakers to actually come together in a way that will propel them into contention. Barring some sort of miracle, this season will end at some point in the next month, in some sort of disappointing and frustrating fashion. Of course, as much as we wanted the 2021-22 Lakers to join the likes of those types of teams in the pantheon of forum blue and gold greats, that’s not going to happen. They’re rarer than you think, even for a franchise with as much historical success as the Lakers. Cherish the great teams as much as you can. So I’ll never take greatness for granted. From Magic and Kareem, to Kobe and Shaq, to LeBron and Anthony Davis, I’ve seen Lakers teams run roughshod over the league and win championships across every NBA era. I have been blessed to see many great Lakers teams in my lifetime.
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