LeBron James has set expectations for his teams so high that they are practically unrealistic. Prior to last season, he reached the NBA Finals in nine out of 10 seasons. The lone miss was the result of an injury, and his teams won four championships in that span. The acquisition of Russell Westbrook made a fifth title appear entirely attainable on paper.
In reality, it has never looked further away. The Lakers are 21-22 through 43 games. Aside from his rookie season and that injury-riddled 2018-19 campaign, no James team has ever been below .500 this late in a season. Westbrook, whom James lobbied the Lakers to acquire behind the scenes, has been a disaster. He is shooting below 30 percent from the field over his past five games, continues to put forth unacceptable effort on defense and will seemingly never stop taking low-percentage shots. Anthony Davis may be out, but at this point, it doesn’t appear as though any single player will be enough to fix what’s wrong with this roster.
On Sunday, less than 24 hours after a humiliating 37-point loss to the Denver Nuggets, James took an unusual step. “Laker Nation I apologize and I promise we’ll be better,” James wrote on Twitter. The move is unusual because James hardly ever needs to apologize. His teams are almost always excellent and his performance is never at fault when it isn’t. That has been the case this season as well. He is averaging 28.9 points per game, the fourth-most of his career, to go along with 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists. If the Lakers had a better record, he would likely be in the MVP discussion.
Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe.
Thanks for signing up!
Keep an eye on your inbox.
Sorry!
There was an error processing your subscription.
But they don’t largely due to a poorly constructed roster around him. Westbrook has been a disappointment, and because of his exorbitant salary, the Lakers have devoted all but four other spots on their roster to players making the minimum salary. James might not be at fault for the play on the court, but he deserves a fair bit of blame for how the roster was assembled off of it.
Of course, that’s not what he’s apologizing for. He’s apologizing for losses. The sad truth is that those probably aren’t going anywhere. The Lakers have the NBA‘s hardest remaining schedule. They have 23 remaining road games compared to just 16 at home. There’s no telling how effective Davis will be when he returns. An apology for how the Lakers have played is certainly welcome, but it might have been premature. There’s a good chance that things can still get worse from here.
Note: This article have been indexed to our site. We do not claim legitimacy, ownership or copyright of any of the content above. To see the article at original source Click Here
Apple Watch Series 10 [GPS 46mm case] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminium Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Fitness Tracker, ECG App, Always-On Retina Display, Water Resistant
$344.64 (as of November 21, 2024 19:21 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Blink Video Doorbell (newest model), Two-way audio, HD video, motion and chime app alerts and Alexa enabled — wired or wire-free (Black)
$29.99 (as of November 21, 2024 19:21 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Portable Power Battery Pump, Upgraded Battery Operated Electric Siphon Pump Water Transfer Pump, Easy to Use Hand Fuel Pump Portable Battery Pump for Gas, Fuel, Diesel, Water Transfer (1PC)
$19.99 (as of November 21, 2024 18:55 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Amazon Fire TV Stick HD (newest model), free and live TV, Alexa Voice Remote, smart home controls, HD streaming
$17.99 (as of November 21, 2024 19:21 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
