LeBron James shared his thoughts on his role in the Los Angeles Lakers’ narrow 105-104 victory over the Utah Jazz.
With the win, the Lakers improved their record to 12-8, staying in contention for the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. LeBron James broke out of a four-game stretch of scoring under 20 points by posting 27 points (12-28 FG) and dishing out 14 assists. During the post-game interview, James reflected on his influence on the game, especially on a night when his shooting wasn’t at its best.
Despite shooting 42.9% from the field, missing 16 shots, and going 0-9 from beyond the arc, James stepped up as the primary playmaker for a Lakers team missing both Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell. His 14 assists were instrumental, accounting for the majority of the Lakers’ 23 total assists.
While fans are used to seeing James consistently deliver 25-point games, expecting it every night may not be sustainable as he enters his third decade in the league. Over the course of the long season, James can easily regain his scoring rhythm. However, the Lakers might be better off tapping into his playmaking abilities, similar to their successful formula during the 2020 championship season, rather than relying solely on his scoring.
This victory was far from perfect, as the Lakers struggled against one of the league’s weaker teams. The Jazz had a chance to win on a last-possession play, but a timeout by their coach nullified a potential game-winning basket. Despite the circumstances, the Lakers will gladly take the win.
However, the game highlighted the Lakers’ need for reinforcements. With key players sidelined, the team must address its depth issues to reduce James’ workload and provide better overall structure as they push deeper into the season.
