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Jason Smith: “The Lakers seemed like they didn’t play with an overall sense of urgency, and this is where LeBron James has to set that tone… LeBron never got to the point where he was like ‘OK, we’re in trouble, I’m taking this game over now'... YOU’RE the big superstar, you’re LEBRON FREAKIN' JAMES, you have to step up and grab this team and say ‘I’ve got to score 40'... Damian Lillard was the guy who stepped up and said ‘I’m going to be the guy to make sure I carry my team to victory.’ LeBron was just like ‘Well, I’ve gotta do my thing, and here’s my rebounds, and here’s my assists’... But a night like tonight where nobody else can score, where was he on that? Damian Lillard was more of the ‘follow me' guy than LeBron was. If we see that LeBron in Game 2 then I know it’s just a matter of time until the Lakers go home and everybody walks around scratching their heads going ‘LeBron was supposed to come in and win this for us but suddenly he's the guy saying OTHER guys have to play well’ This is more than just one loss because do we have to worry about LeBron’s motivation? Is he in the right place? Is he ready to go? What’s up with LeBron’s leadership? I don't get it." (Full Segment Above)
Listen to Jason Smith explain why he thinks LeBron James was to blame for the Lakers’ shocking Game 1 loss to the eighth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers, who recorded their lowest scoring victory of the year in a 100-93 opening game series win.
Despite becoming the first player in NBA history to have a 20+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 15+ assists playoff game, LeBron scored just 23 points in 41 minutes, and didn’t seem to have much interest in trying to electrify a Lakers offense who shot just 5-32 from three, including Anthony Davis’ nightmare 8 for 24 game from the field.
Smith says LeBron can’t just take solace in going 23/17/16 on a comatose Lakers offense that simply isn’t talented and potent enough to pack a punch without LeBron going for at least 30-40 points in a high leverage and closely contested playoff game. Smith says LeBron can’t just hang his hat on his 17 rebounds and 16 assists, and expect a thin Lakers roster to pick up the slack in the scoring department, especially against an offense as explosive as Portland.
Check out segment above as Smith details why we saw an unmotivated and passive LeBron in Game 1, and why this series is going to be over for the Lakers in 4 or 5 games if this is the only version of Lebron we're going to get against Portland.
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