LeBron laughs at his age again and alleviates the Lakers’ crisis with a masterpiece
It is not normal even by the logic of age and there are doubts that it is sustainable in the long term for the Lakers, but LeBron James continues to personally deal with the problems and crises of those in purple and gold. Less than a week after turning 39, The King brought the Lakers out of the post-Cup depression with a balmy victory against the Thunder (120-129) thanks to another masterpiece of character with 40 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists but also efficiency: 13/20 in field goals and a perfect 5/5 in triples.
LeBron literally fulfilled the saying that, when the Lakers are at their worst, his best self emerges with his best game of the season so far. He said at the beginning of the season that Anthony Davis, almost 10 years younger (30), is “the face of the franchise,” but, despite La Ceja’s 26 points, 11 sacks and 7 basket passes, he was the who took a step forward with those 40 points and 15 of them in the last quarter.
LEBRON 40-PIECE IN LAKERS W 👑
40 PTS
7 REB
7 AST
5/5 3PM pic.twitter.com/oK6xH99HC4— NBA (@NBA) December 24, 2023
Given the strength and vitality of these emerging Thunder, with 34 points for Shai Gilgeous-Alexader, 28 for Jalen Williams and 19 for the unicorn Chet Holmgren, a dose of basketball and passion that the ’23’ keeps intact.
“Knowing that I can go out and still make game-winning plays, be able to affect the game in multiple ways and still be able to close out a game in the fourth quarter when our team needed it when they were starting to make a run is something you feel good about.” “For sure,” LeBron acknowledged.
“Everyone was making shots and passing the ball, we tried to maintain it and not lose the ball, that was the key,” added The King, illustrating his teammates with his innate reading of the game as well, inspiring with his blocks on the run.
LeBron got picked on the Lakers possession then turned on the jets for the chasedown BLOCK 🤯pic.twitter.com/mEI9eg7fMK
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 24, 2023
Rui Hachimura, gaining momentum, recorded 21 points from the bench in a game in which there was news before it even started, as the Lakers finally sent D’Angelo Russell to the bench, with Jarred Vanderbilt taking his place in the starting five.
However, he suited DLO well to convince his team not to transfer him, with 15 points in just 17 minutes with 5/9 shooting and 3/6 triples. Let’s see if Russell is also going to do like the other Russell -Westbrook-, the predecessor who could not fulfill the complex role of being the Lakers’ starting point guard but who found his place from the bench.
Austin Reaves also had 11 points and 9 assists. If LeBron shoots, everyone follows. There is no age or crisis that can resist him.
