The new-look Lakers are off to a tumultuous start at 3-5 this season, with the team losing three separate games that have gone down to the wire. One of these tough losses came Monday against the Timberwolves, testing the patience of LeBron James and other veterans on the team.
“There’s obviously frustration that comes with it,” coach Luke Walton said at the time, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “I don’t know what the level [of frustration] is, but it’s going to be a tough flight home.
“But like I told our guys, nobody feels sorry for us. It’s up to us to figure it out and start winning some of these close games. And we will. I can promise you that. We will start to win some of these. But right now we’re taking a couple lumps in the meantime.”
Walton has substituted players in and out of the starting lineup, experimenting different groups of players this season. Part of growing as a new team is having the patience and veteran leadership in turbulent times, something the Lakers possess in James.
James willed his team to a victory Wednesday, but offered a simple answer when asked about his patience earlier in the week:
“You probably don’t want to be around when my patience runs out,” James said. “I’m serious.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Exercising the 2019/20 option in Damian Jones‘ contract was an easy decision for the Warriors, Monte Poole of NBC Sports writes. Jones’ $2.3MM salary for next season is a team-friendly deal when considering his level of play at starting center this year.
- Shaun Livingston underwent an MRI on his foot this week after dealing with soreness, Mark Medina of The Mercury News tweets. The MRI returned clean, and the Warriors plan to be cautious with his injury. Livingston is listed as doubtful for Friday’s game against the Timberwolves.
- LeBron James needs more support around him for the Lakers to reach their true potential, The Los Angeles Times’ Dan Woike writes. James scored 29 points in a close home win against the Mavericks on Wednesday, knocking down the game-winning free throw. The Lakers have a young nucleus of talent and several veterans around James, who’s seeking his fourth NBA title.
Walton is horrible and the reason LeBron came over to LA was because he knew he was going to be able to bully Walton around and basically be the coach of the team. Why is Caldwell-Pope getting more minutes than Lance who has won you 2 out of the 3 games you have won?
This Laker team would be better without LeBron James. He’s got guys like Hart,Ingram, and Kuzma all out of rhythm. Hart doesn’t look the same attacking the basket like last season, Ingram can’t play point forward like last season because of LeBron and Kuzma has to practically be a 3 and D player around James.
Guess what LeBron? Kawhi,Klay,and Durant aren’t coming over to help you and Davis is a lock to stay if the Pelicans bring back Cousins next summer.
Not so sure about Pelicans wanting Cousins back. They took off without him and DVis has thrived.
Davis*
Read the article! It is Anthony Davis doing the talking. Whatever AD wants, like Lebron, he gets. Says if Randle opts out and they don’t re sign Mirotic, they will have $25mm to sign Cousins. ESPN says they think that’s enough. Last summer Rodney Hood said he wanted to play for the Pelicans.
If the Lakers don’t get to .500 at 20 games, I can see LeBron telling Magic to fire Walton and bring in Tyronn.
In no way will DMC ever go back to NOLA!!! They were the ones that could have max’d him, they refuse he will never go back there… the only way he can play together with AD again (if he wants at all, not so sure) is if both meet playing for the Lakers. End of it, NOLA don’t do what AD says, hence why he will leave.
This is typical cesc. A writer interviews Anthony Davis and CESC doesn’t read it. Instead he says AD doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I believe AD. I’ve never believed cesc’s opinions.
Davis said “down the road”..”in free agency”. No specific mention of New Orleans. Sounds more polite and unspecific than a demand to the front office. If they got rid of Mrotic when he is finally showing what people saw in the Euroleague, they would be foolish. That trade was a steal. Cousins and Davis might end up together in the west coast LA, but not the other one.
This was in several publications. The one I read specifically said New Orleans. “Down the road” he is talking of this next summer for Cousins.
Amen! LeBron doesn’t like to play with the young guys. Magic doesn’t want to give in and trade Ingram, Hart, Lonzo, or Kuzma. They are the only players other teams want. The Lakers better hurry up and get up to that no. 2 seed these Bronsexuals ay they’ll finish at.
See ESPN.com for Davis saying him and Cousins are still close and wants to get back together, as well as the Sporting News. The Lakers choices are dwindling again.
Walton played LeBron, Kuzma, McGhee, Lonzo, and Ingram (shooting guard), with Hart off the bench when the Lakers blew the 19 point 4th quarter lead.
lebron dug his grave by leaving the eastern conference – plus he doesn’t have friends/star players following him to the lakers
Dug his grave? Lol we’re 9 games in to the season and he’s getting paid $30,000,000 a year. He’s doing fine honey.
8
Unfortunately, as some of you have alluded to previously, it comes as no suprise the addition of James has stunted the progress and growth of Kuzma and Ingram. Other than maybe his rookie season, LeBron has never had to come in and play with an actual team. It has typically been his own handpicked guys, one star, and a bunch of role players that cane solely to cater to LeBron..
LeBron has never had to really help his teammates grow, and he’s never really played with really young and talented prospects that need further developing. There is a really good reason for that, and MAKE NO MISTAKE, it’s by his own design!!…He is used to just doing his own thing, taking over, and recycling his role player teammates; he’s not used to being part of an actual roster and team..
That is one reason the LeBron-MJ argument makes me sick…MJ was able to function on a team, by making his teammates better, and truly being a leader. He could bring his teammates together, he could mentally push them past their own limits, and he welcomed that challenge. LeBron doesn’t function best as a leader, he functions best solely as a dictator. He only wants players on his team that are going to bow down to him.
As Steven A. Smith once screamed, it’s SOOO MUCH easier for a player to be successful when you solely build a team around your best players talent’s and weaknesses..For example, what Philly did for Iverson, and what Cleveland and Miami did for LeBron…LeBron has previously, solely had his team’s built around LeBron. Now that he is actually on a team, with other talented players that aren’t just catering to his every whim, isn’t it pretty funny how less “God-like” and more flawed LeBron looks!?! That’s no coincidence..
Well that and the refs are helping him like they used to. He plays bully ball and travels almost every time teams have to slide over and he passes to pad his stats and at the end of the game he has a near triple double and his team suffers and loses. He doesnt play d and most “free” points come when his players blows past him to the hoop. Then on offensive he comes down and isos and everyone else just stands there, lonzo is best with ball in his hands not becoming a 3 and d player…wish and hope lebron will leave soon, tried of his drama and headlines.
Lebron did not handpick the players in MIA, they were already there. And not for CLE either, except for Love & a couple backups who followed him. He never got the players he might want. Your whole theory goes poof.
Only a no. 1 Bronsexual would say this. It’s called tunnel vision. Kyrie wanted to bring in Gordon Hayward, Trevor Ariza, and Channing Frye. LeBron decides to come. First thing he does is says he won’t come unless Gilbert trades for Love and imports Mike Miller and James Johnson from Miami. LeBron never would have gone to Miami if he, Wade, and Chris Bosh didn’t agree ahead of time. Wade, Rose, and Jeff Green were his doing. He admits being upset that Gilbert and Altman didn’t get Bledsoe and George for him. There are always 2 sides to a story.
You simply repeated what I said. You did not name handpicked players. Your only contribution was bringing up Irving, off point. By your stunted logic, that makes you an Irvingsexual.
You admitted Lebron did not get the players he wanted.
Green and Rose had no relationship with James; Wade was gone in months. Not examples of handpicking.
You have no valid point as usual.
You are the no.1 Bronsexual. From your profile picture and your attempts to propose trades, I can estimate your intelligence. I read daily from all over the web about sports stories from credible sources like sports enthusiasts do. You are not credible and nothing you say about LeBron is credible. Dave Griffin said that LeBron holds every team hostage that he plays for. That sums it up.
Rose was playing in Las Vegas with LeBron before he signed with the Cavs. LeBron contacted Green after Jonathan Simmons told him he didn’t want to go to the Cavs. As usual you are making stuff up. You think if a statement doesn’t make LeBron look good it can’t be true. Bronsexual.
LeBron didn’t get the players he wanted because nobody wanted these crappy players on the Cavs he picked. Gilbert wouldn’t give up an unprotected 1st round pick for George.
Gilbert might have kept Isaiah, Crowder, Rose, Shumpert, Frye, and Wade, but LeBron wouldn’t tell Gilbert if he was staying, so he traded them for younger guys. You say LeBron didn’t have anything to do with J.R. I saw LeBron doing an interview with their announcers. They told him there were rumors of the Cavs trying to get J.R. LeBron said “If you can get him, get him.
I like the Warriors, Celtics, and Pacers because they play team basketball and the Celtics have Indiana ties with Gordon Hayward and Brad Stevens. Kyrie is playing very well now. I’m enjoying basketball this year, The Pacers-Celtics game was a thriller. Not having LeBron in the Finals again makes me happy too. Good luck Kyrie!
Lefraud…. period
Lefraud….period