They will be fine.
The last time the Lakers embarked on a troubling four-game lost streak was December 2019, to which they responded with nine consecutive games. Coincidentally, the winning streak began against the Portland Trail Blazers, who they defeated last night in one of their best defensive performances of the 2020-21 season.
The concern that came in was how the Lakers lost four straights that came shortly after Anthony Davis’s Achilles tendonThe Lakers dropped only 98 points against the defensively challenged Brooklyn Nets and lost by 11 points. Two nights later, the now soaring (red hot is too ez) Miami Heat took a 1990s-style victory in 96-94. That was followed by a loss in extra time to the Washington Wizards, who now won 6 of 7 for the first time in three seasons. And then the big one: a 114-89 ass-whoopin ‘through the hands of the Utah Jazz, the NBA’s top regular-season team (for now).
If last night wasn’t a must-win for the Lakers, it was close if not for the sole reason Davis isn’t expected to return for at least a few more weeksThe Lakers had to prove they could enter water without The Brow and did so by holding the NBA’s 10th highest-scoring offense at more than 20 points below their average. Dennis Schröder recalling the COVID protocol has helped immensely, but it above all indicates that the Lakers – even without Davis – have another gear that they can defendably invoke that other NBA contenders have yet to prove when it matters.
The Lakers allowed Damian Lillard to hit 35 points, but not only did he have to work tirelessly (24 field goal attempts) to get a game high, but the Lakers only allowed one other Trail Blazer to accumulate more than 11 points. points: Gary Trent Jr, who scored 19 in just 8 of 20 shots (including 2-for-11 of three). Without Lillard’s 11-for-24, the Blazers shot 21-for-59 and were under pressure on what felt like possession.
It doesn’t matter that LeBron James finished the night with 28 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, but his defensive rating of 83 was a catalyst in Laker’s win and he also recorded four steals and three blocks. Offensively, the team didn’t receive significant contributions from anyone outside of James, Schröder’s 22 points and Montrezl Harrell’s 17-point, nine rebound effort off the bench, but when they’re locked up defensively that’s all they need. to lead the way.
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Perhaps even some of the motivation for the Lakers came shortly before playing time when AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimović, who played with the LA Galaxy from 2018-19, criticized James for being essentially a political activist and an advocate for change in America. Ibrahimovic said in an interview with UEFA for Discovery + on Thursday that James is “phenomenal” but doesn’t have to be involved in sports and politics at the same time.
“Do what you do best,” said Ibrahimović, as if giving advice. Do the category you do. I play football because I am the best at playing football. I don’t do politics. If I were a political politician, I would be in politics. That is the first mistake people make when they become famous and receive a certain status. Stay out of it. Just do what you are good at because it doesn’t look good. “
In addition to responding with his performance, James also addressed Ibrahimović after the game, saying he won’t shut up or dribble:
“I will never shut up about things that are wrong. I preach about my people, and I preach about equality, social justice, racism, voter oppression; things that happen in our community. I will use my platform to continue to shed light on everything that is happening in this country and around the world. There is no way I would ever stick to sports because I understand how powerful this platform and my voice is. “
And, because the internet will do that always find out, here’s a clip of Ibrahimović crediting Muhammad Ali for being a role model for what he did inside and outside of boxing. It’s the quintessential revisionist history people do with Ali (and Martin Luther King Jr and Roberto Clemente, etc.), who was nowhere near as loved in his day as in hindsight.