In Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers’ defense was good enough to give them a real shot at victory. They held the Thunder, who averaged 119 points a game during the regular season, to 108 points, and they held reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 18 points while getting him to commit seven turnovers.
But the Lakers’ offense was simply weak. They mustered 90 points and scored under 20 points in both the third and fourth quarters, and they shot 41.2% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range. Those are numbers that will always result in a defeat, and they resulted in the Lakers losing Game 1 by 18 points.
With Luka Doncic still sidelined due to a hamstring strain, LeBron James, who scored 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting, James kept it real when he was asked after Game 1 where the team’s offensive issues are coming from.
“We have a guy that averaged 37 a game (who is not in the lineup)… There’s the issues right there. We’re playing against the No. 1 defensive team in the NBA, as far as the ratings and everything. And when you play against great defenses, you have to have guys that can attract multiple defenders on the floor at all times. I feel like we got some great shots tonight, we missed them. When you play against the world champions, having a guy that averages 34, six and eight and eight and nine, whatever the hell it is, that’s special. So we have to be better at finding ways to get to the blender, finding ways to get to the paint. We know they’re a paint-swarming team, so they have to be better with getting to the paint and not turning the ball over and then shooting with confidence. But I feel like we got some really good looks.”
For the record, Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists a game during the regular season and led the league in scoring average. He generates a massive amount of gravity when he’s on the court, and opponents regularly trap him on the perimeter, which can open up opportunities for his teammates. That’s not even mentioning the hot streaks he tends to go on, especially early in games.
As far as anyone can tell, there is still no timetable for Doncic’s return. He suffered his hamstring strain on April 2, and with each passing day, it seems a lot more likely that he will not return at all during this year’s playoffs. But if the Lakers find a way to be competitive and extend this series, perhaps there’s at least an outside chance he can play later in the series.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: LeBron James keeps it real about why Lakers are struggling offensively
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
