The Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James had a slow start to the NBA season, but they have gradually picked up the pace and it shows in their record. After finishing last in the Western Conference, Los Angeles is in sixth place with an 8-6 record in 14 games.
After two consecutive wins, coach Davon Hamm seems to have found the formula for the team to maintain a positive record: James. The 38-year-old forward has been improving his game and proving that despite the passage of time, he is still one of the best players in the league.
More relevant than ever
“King James” has shown his best form in the last five games with the Lakers, recording four wins, showing that despite his age, he is still the main reference for the California team. Likewise, in recent games, he’s averaged 29.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.2 assists while shooting 63.1% from the field, which shows just how efficient James was at the basket last week.
Ham has said that players will be limited in playing time and will not play more than 30 minutes in each game, so that James can be counted on to compete for the championship this season with his best physical ability in the playoffs. However, the forward is averaging 34.4 minutes per game this season and his increased involvement will be necessary to achieve victory.
In the last game against the Houston Rockets, “King James” played 40 minutes and made the last shot to help the team win 105-104, including free throws to end the game.
In the 13 games James played, he played less than 30 minutes in only 3 games. This is a warning sign to the Los Angeles coaching staff that if they want to give LeBron James a rest in April, they must make the necessary adjustments to make that happen.