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NBA Analyst Lauds Lakers’ LeBron James’ For Outstanding Performance Without Anthony Davis and Alex Caruso

Published 02/12/2021, 4:30 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

The Los Angeles Lakers won their 6th game in a row with a 114-113 victory over the OKC Thunder. This was their third successive game that went to overtime. The champions saw a vintage LeBron James performance as he scored 25 points, 6 assists and 7 rebounds.

Coach Frank Vogel will be delighted with the team’s win against the Thunder. Although the Lakers were missing key players like Anthony Davis and Alex Caruso, James’ performance was enough to get over the hump.

NBA analyst Shannon Sharpe was certainly impressed with LeBron’s performance. In a recent episode of the Undisputed, Sharpe was all praises for how James has led the team without Davis and Caruso.

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He said, “I think if there’s a scenario that if Caruso and AD plays, LeBron maybe takes the night off, but I think Frank Vogel, the Head Coach, realized that there’s no way we have a huge chance of winning this game without AD without LeBron and Caruso.

“So I believe if AD and Caruso had been there, LeBron maybe would have taken the night off. But because they weren’t, LeBron says, ‘Okay, coach, I’ll go’.”

He added, “To this put this kind of minutes on his leg this late in his career, man, I mean, they went to double overtime Friday; they went to overtime on Monday, and went to overtime again, last night. 40+ minutes, and he’s doing a lot of heavy lifting. And he’s trying to manage it.”

Sharpe also explained how LeBron James stayed on the court for such a long time. “He’s trying to conserve energy. Just trying to be out there.

“Just knowing his presence alone, sometimes is enough to help the team stay together and produce a victory. But he was spectacular last night.”

Shannon Sharpe explains what’s wrong with the Lakers

Sharpe during a recent episode of the Undisputed also explained why the Lakers have been lacking this season. He said, “The Lakers got to do a better job of getting off to faster starts getting because they get off to these such slow starts.” 

He added, “They’re letting these young teams with the young legs. Guys that are 22-23 skill. They can play 40 minutes, they can run all day. You can’t do that.”

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Sharpe also explained why slower starts have been the Achilles heel for the team. He said, “So you build you let them get a 15 point you let them get a 20 point lead.

USA Today via Reuters

“You have to spend so much energy trying to fight and claw your way back. Yeah, that a lot of times you’re not able to get over the hump. Okay, give them credit.

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“They were able to get over the hump the last couple of times, okay, but you’re going down a path that you really choose, you really don’t care to be on.”

The Lakers will face the Memphis Grizzlies tonight. They had a 94-92 victory against them last time they faced Memphis. Coach Vogel will hope that the side can have a rather comfortable win against the young, talented Grizzlies team.

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Written by:

Aditya Mohapatra

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Aditya Mohapatra is a sports enthusiast who primarily covers the NBA for EssentiallySports. Having graduated in Mass Communication, he has prior experience in writing for ABP News, and has been writing for EssentiallySports since November 2020. This die-hard Los Angeles Lakers fan feels that LeBron James is the best thing to have ever happened to the NBA, and will hold a healthy debate with anyone suggesting otherwise.
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