TV host, Former NBA Player, and now a game analyst went crazy while discussing LeBron James and LA Lakers loss to the Nets on Christmas Day.
The Stage was set for the Lakers, Christmas period – where Lakers have a record of most wins in NBA. It was 1st game after the new name to the Staples Center, and opponents were without their main stars. Yet LeBron James and co lost the game 122-115. Former Lakers player and now a game analyst, James Worthy went crazy while discussing the loss.
The Lakers were on a 4-game losing streak. They had never lost 5 straight games since March 2019 and had an opportunity to maintain that record (not a proud one though). Brooklyn Nets team was without KD, Aldridge, and Kyrie sidelined for various reasons. They had only James Harden back from the isolation.
But Patty Mills proved to be the difference-maker in absence of other superstars. He scored career-high 34 points for the Nets. Harden was playing after nearly 2 weeks but was in good form as well. Harden and Mills together put 70 points on board against the Lakers.
LeBron scored game-high 39 points while other Lakers merely crossed the two-digit mark. Russell Westbrook did manage to get a triple-double (13 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists). But it was not much impactful on the match result.Let us see what the analysts had to say about the Lakers’ performance
Some important points mentioned by Worthy on LeBron James
James Worthy has been a former Laker-player and among the 50 greatest players in NBA History. So he knows the game and Lakers fans well. He put forward very important points in his analysis, which actually will be very helpful for LeBron James and the Lakers.
The defense is letting the team down
Worthy’s main focus was on the Lakers’ defensive lapses. Statistically, the LA team is 27th in the league in the points allowed per game category.LA team has leaked 6 more points per game than last season’s average.
There is no secret that James Worthy was very critical of the Lakers’ defense. He asked LeBron James and Russell Westbrook to lead the team into playing defense. His idea was to let offense be set up through defense especially in absence of Anthony Davis.
The Lakers were missing out on the 3rd quarter.
James Worthy pointed out fact that the Lakers are finding it difficult to start well – at the tip-off and also after halftime. It was Nets’ 3rd quarter play that made the game harder for the Lakers.
The main emphasis was still on the Lakers defense, which allowed 38 points in 1st quarter and 36 points in 3rd quarter. He also praised LA Lakers for the efforts shown in 3 quarters except for the 3rd one.
New players signed have shown some spark with the Lakers.
James Worthy was appreciating the contribution made by Stanley Johnson. He was with the team on a 10-days contract under the NBA hardship exception rule. Johnson played 21 minutes in the match and scored 7 points, but his energy and efficiency in defense showed the Lakers some opening in the 4th quarter.
All the points mentioned by James Worthy can be taken as constructive criticism. If LeBron and the team manage to work on it, it will help the Lakers to get some wins at a stretch.
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