A ruff start of the season ended up being a sad ending for the Los Angeles Lakers. No one expected the Lakers to even get to the playoffs after a 2-11 start. But with a couple of tweaks and roster changes, The Lakers not only made the playoffs, They advanced to second round after a dominating win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 6.
After 47 seasons the Denver Nuggets are headed to the NBA finals for the 1st time in Franchise History by sweeping the Lakers at home 113-111.
According to Vegas Lakers Fans Hundreds of Las Vegas locals gathered to see the game hoping the Lakers would win and force a game 5.
The Nuggets had a different focus. Nikola Jokic had 30 pts. 14 rebounds and 13 assist. Jamal Murray added 25 pt. sealing their 1st ticket to the NBA finals.
Lebron James played 48 minutes scoring 40 pts, 10 boards, and 9 assist. The rest of he Lakers starters scored in double digits, but no player scored more than 21 points. Lebron called the Nuggets the hardest team he and Anthony Davis had faced in the post season over the last four years.
LeBron James looked tired.
The 19 time All-Star’s dominance was inconsistent throughout the NBA playoffs. In Game 2, he didn’t score until a dunk with 6:49 left in the first quarter and blew a breakaway dunk that had Ball Arena screaming in his embarrassment. He finished the series with a career-playoff-high 31 points in the first half of Game 4 on Monday, but had just nine points in the second half
According to bleacherreport.com “Lakers star LeBron James is uncertain if he’ll be with the team when the 2023-24 NBA season starts in the fall, and retirement is under consideration.” That seems like a decision made out of frustration.
The disgust from on the court carried into the press room when he pondered his future on the same day that his draft classmate Carmelo Anthony retired.