Even though the season ended in disappointment for the Los Angeles Lakers, there are many people still praising the team’s biggest star.
LeBron James was receiving a lot of accolades on Tuesday morning after a 40-point showing in the razor-thin defeat.
Skip Bayless is one of the many celebrating James, who came out “blazing” in the elimination game.
“LeBron gave the NBA world his greatest playoff quarter ever. He scores 21 in the first quarter. At age 38 in year 20, that was off-the-charts, unheard of sensational,” Bayless said on Undisputed.
“LeBron gave the NBA world his greatest playoff quarter ever. At age 38, that was off-the-charts, unheard of sensational.”
— @RealSkipBayless pic.twitter.com/lkAUsnbHCC
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) May 23, 2023
Bayless said that he thought the Lakers would win the game if James gave a big performance.
Although James certainly delivered on that, LA still came up short.
Monday night’s game was yet another example of the power and shortcomings of the Lakers.
James is still one of the smartest and most pivotal players in the league, capable of putting up 40 points when it matters most.
Yet, the rest of the team can be inconsistent at times and doesn’t always give him the help he needs.
Head coach Darvin Ham made a few adjustments to the starting lineup before the game, hoping to slow Denver’s offensive onslaught.
He has certainly found a strong core of players, led by James, who work well together.
Unfortunately for them, the Nuggets were simply better.
All season long, people have been amazed by the sort of work James has been doing, especially given his age.
Now some people are wondering what he and the team could have accomplished had he rested longer after his foot injury in the middle of the season.
With a few months off and time for the team and the coaching staff to gel more, James and his Lakers could come back even stronger next year.
That means that more 40-point playoff games may be in the future.
NEXT:
Shannon Sharpe Reacts To Lakers Being Eliminated From Playoffs
