LeBron James remains confident in Lakers’ defense despite Game 2 loss to Warriors
Despite suffering a blowout loss in Game 2 against the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James remains confident in his team’s defensive abilities (Lakers Nation). In the second game of the 2023 NBA Western Conference semifinals, the Lakers allowed the Warriors to score 127 points, but James maintains that the team is still the best defensive team in the NBA (Bleacher Report).
The Warriors’ small-ball tactics proved challenging for the Lakers in Game 2, and Los Angeles is now under pressure to find an answer to Golden State’s strategy (CBS Sports). Game 3 of the ongoing best-of-seven series is set to take place tonight, and the Lakers are seeking to regain their footing with the series currently tied at 1-1 (Sporting News).
The clash between the Lakers and Warriors is part of the Western Conference Semifinals, a contest that has basketball fans’ attention firmly fixed on the West Coast (Sporting News). Both teams boast strong regular-season records, with the Warriors finishing 44-38 and the Lakers close behind at 43-39 (CBS Sports).
Although LeBron James was listed on the Lakers’ injury report for Game 2, he played despite his status (Sports Illustrated). With Game 3 approaching, two LA stars are reportedly at risk of not suiting up for the pivotal matchup against the Warriors (Sports Illustrated).
As the series shifts to the Lakers’ home territory for Game 3, former Laker D’Angelo Russell has said that the team is in a “familiar position” heading into the match (Lakers Nation). Beyond their performance on the court, the Lakers are also making headlines for other reasons. For example, Lakers player JaVale McGee recently called out ESPN’s Jay Williams for using his name to criticize teammate Anthony Davis (Lakers Nation). Additionally, an NBA insider has explained why the Lakers may have an advantage with referees (Silver Screen and Roll).
