NFL
By: Brock Vierra
It’s official, the Denver Nuggets have finally beaten the Los Angeles Lakers in a playoff series as the Nikola Jokic-led squad will represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals. For LeBron James, a massive blow was dealt in his pursuit of championship number 5 as Lakers fans continue to impatiently wait for an NBA Finals home game.
On another note, the G.O.A.T. debate took a massive swing towards Michael Jordan’s way as this marks another loss in a Conference Finals and yet another time LeBron was swept. Yes, Jordan did both multiple times but LeBron didn’t. It basically gives LeBron one less thing to hang his hat on. However, both men played in different eras with different rules so the G.O.A.T. debate will forever be an endless cycle of arguments that will never reach a conclusion.
However, it’s time to talk about something that’s a little easier to debate and discuss and that’s his legacy with the Lakers. On my personal Mount Rushmore of Lakers players sit Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, and Magic Johnson. Shaquille O’Neal is a close 5th and quite frankly, you can interchange any of these five men because you can’t tell the story of the Lakers without any of them. Since it’s basketball, those men would be a part of my (position-less) Laker All-Time starting five. Now, had LeBron won his second title with the Lakers, he’d probably be in the top 5 like he is in Cleveland and Miami but that will have to wait for now.
LeBron’s play in the WCFs was so abysmal, especially in the fourth quarter that I don’t think I’m alone when I say that LeBron’s playing timeline from here on out needs to be questioned. A horrific performance from three wouldn’t be so bad if he would just stop shooting them. However, he didn’t and various other decisions on the court made many criticize the future Hall of Famer. Such a poor physical and mental performance in a situation for which he has excelled for the majority of his career clearly points to him losing to the only opponent that has never been defeated in human history…time.
What Is The Lakers Legacy of LeBron James
Time is catching up to LeBron as it does to all and despite the tremendous time and efforts LeBron has taken to maintain his body and athletic ability, I don’t think he can play at a number one option level anymore. This now calls his Laker legacy into question because as of right now, that means Anthony Davis is the number one option and I think we all know that AD being the number one option isn’t sustainable.
So now with LeBron’s offensive production resembling the Celtics’ version of Rajon Rondo. A distributor that can attack the rim but struggles to shoot past the perimeter, the Lakers need to curtail his three-point shot and figure out how to equip LeBron with players that suit his style of play. My suggestion is to put LeBron at the point, Austin Reaves at the two for his shooting prowess, Rui Hachimura at the three, and Davis at the five.
The D’Angelo Russell in Tinseltown experiment part two has run its course and I believe he should be a tradeable asset for the Lakers to find a 4. Now who could that player be? P.J. Tucker’s 3 and D style could be a good fit. Maybe Tobias Harris if they can figure out the contract situation. Maybe Draymond Green if he becomes available? Who knows but that’s how I think the Lakers should proceed.
That’s the hypothetical but here’s the reality. The sweep hurts LeBron’s legacy…bad. Laker fans demand championships and despite already delivering one, the fact he won it in the bubble takes something away from it for some (not me). Laker fans need to see LeBron win a title live in order to complete his legacy in LA and if the 2023 season is not one in which they reach the Finals, the pressure will only be cranked up on him to perform and from what we’ve already seen, it’s not gonna end well. LeBron brought the Lakers out of the dark ages, now it’s time for the Lakers to protect him and bring in guys who can get the job done.
