After a disappointing first sport of the playoffs for LeBron James, DeMarcus Cousins isn’t able to panic simply but.
In Sport 1 of the Western Convention playoff showdown between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers, the Wolves stole a sport in Hollywood, largely due to LeBron James posting solely an inefficient 19 factors.
After all, James is without doubt one of the greatest gamers in NBA historical past and one of many nice playoff performers, and a single misplaced sport doesn’t imply Los Angeles ought to panic. Nevertheless, in a loaded Western Convention, there isn’t a such factor as a straightforward first-round matchup, and the Lakers had been seeking to take a lead.
One former participant isn’t apprehensive about James’ means to bounce again within the subsequent video games, and is urging the staff to only take it one sport at a time.
Within the loss, Luka Doncic scored 37 glorious factors and made half of his photographs from deep.
Neglected behind James’ sport was Austin Reaves, who additionally upset, taking pictures solely 38.5% from the ground. If the Lakers’ Massive Three can play the way in which they ended the season, there’s no motive for a first-game loss to get underneath their pores and skin.
“Clearly, it’s embarrassing,” stated DeMarcus Cousins of the loss. “No one needs to lose at dwelling like that. However it’s one sport.
“It’s additionally the Lakers with two guys that we’ve seen do that at a excessive degree many, many instances in LeBron James and Luka.”
With James and Doncic main the way in which, in addition to a confirmed supporting solid led by Reaves, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jaxson Hayes, and Rui Hachimura, the Lakers are anticipated to bounce again.
“Is it time to panic?” requested Cousins. “Completely not. However nobody needs to start out this sequence off in that approach. Clearly, you wish to set the tone early, leap out early on groups.
“However I don’t suppose this can be a second of panic. I feel we’ll see a greater displaying from the Lakers. I positively suppose we’ll see a greater displaying from LeBron James.”
If Doncic and James fail to coexist on this sequence, which looks like a leap, there’ll naturally be some questions on whether or not or not the Lakers truly made the fitting name in buying and selling Anthony Davis away for Doncic.
In spite of everything, James and Davis have confirmed themselves to be a title-winning duo, and James and Doncic bought blown out of their first sport collectively within the postseason.
The Lakers’ entrance workplace gained’t admit this till after James retires, however it’s plainly clear that they made the commerce to organize for achievement post-James. The transfer was not made to maximise LeBron, it was meant to breathe some second life into the franchise when the inevitable occurs, and the true payoff gained’t be obvious till 2026 or 2027, when Doncic alone is the face of the franchise.
