BOSTON — LeBron James‘ return from an prolonged absence could not remedy the inconsistent play that has plagued his crew on each ends and was on full show within the Lakers‘ 130-108 loss to the Celtics on Friday.
The defeat dropped Los Angeles — one of many oddsmakers’ favorites to win the championship — to 8-9 with greater than a fifth of the season within the books.
“It is by no means, ‘We acquired 65 video games left,'” James stated when requested if he can take the lengthy view contemplating the Lakers’ early accidents and the way a lot of the 82-game regular-season slate stays. “We rattling certain must play higher, irrespective of who’s within the lineup. Now we have our system and we have to clearly fast-track it and get higher with it so we will play, irrespective of who’s out on the ground, we will play at a excessive degree. … There isn’t any degree of panic, however there needs to be some sense of urgency any time we take the ground.”
James performed for the primary time in 2½ weeks due to an stomach pressure and confirmed indicators of his previous self, registering 23 factors on 10-for-16 capturing, six rebounds, two assists and two steals, however solely three of his shot makes an attempt got here within the paint, which may very well be seen as an indication of the warning the 19-year veteran performed with, coping with his third important harm prior to now 4 seasons.
“Bodily I felt OK and ok to know that I can belief my physique and get out and play tonight,” James stated. “So I am extra trying ahead to seeing how I am feeling tomorrow after I get up. That’s the telltale signal if I am transferring in the fitting course with my harm.”
Who is aware of what course the Lakers are headed, nevertheless.
Boston outrebounded Los Angeles 51-33 regardless of beginning heart Robert Williams III (averaging a team-best 9.2 rebounds per sport) out of the lineup.
“I imply … rebound,” stated Russell Westbrook. “Ain’t an excessive amount of you are able to do about it. Simply go get the ball … easy as that.”
The Lakers, who led by as many as 14 within the first half, noticed their third-quarter woes proceed, with the Celtics breaking issues open with a 33-21 quarter out of the break.
“Now we have to get dedicated to enjoying as a crew offensively,” stated Lakers coach Frank Vogel. “And once we do, like we noticed within the first quarter, it seems lovely and also you see the potential of what we may be. However we acquired into holding the ball an excessive amount of and never enjoying for one another sufficient. However that is a part of studying one another and constructing that cohesiveness and the fitting habits. After which defensively, guys are going to have large roles in the event that they decide to the defensive aspect. And if they do not, they are not. It is that easy.”
The 130 factors by Boston had been essentially the most the Lakers have allowed all season.
“We are able to exit and compete each evening, however I do not assume it is our offense. I feel it is our protection, actually,” stated Anthony Davis, who led the Lakers with 31 factors. “We have simply acquired to do a greater job on the defensive finish.”
For Westbrook, who was outperformed by the purpose guard he was introduced in to interchange, Dennis Schroder — because the Boston guard had 21 factors, six assists and 6 rebounds to Westbrook’s 12, six and 4 — there was a component of déjà vu. It was one other irritating evening for him and his new crew as they attempt to come collectively.
“I feel the truth of it’s all people on the skin have actually excessive expectations of our crew, as they need to,” Westbrook stated. “However the actuality of it’s we’ve not actually performed with one another realistically, and no person cares and all people asks the identical query, and I am uninterested in giving the identical reply to the identical query each time we lose.
“It is like, ‘Hey, how lengthy do you assume it may take?’ We do not know. Once we win, it is nonetheless going to take a while. So the truth of it’s, all through the season, there’s going to be ups, there’s going to be downs. It is now what you do as a crew. You’ll be able to pull aside, or you possibly can come collectively and determine it out.”
The Lakers are nonetheless with out Kendrick Nunn (proper knee) and Trevor Ariza (proper ankle), who’ve each but to look in a sport this season. And rookie swingman Austin Reaves continues to be sidelined with a hamstring pressure.
James stated he want to see the crew decide on a constant look — both going large, with DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard getting the lion’s share of the minutes at heart, or small, with Davis on the 5 — and sticking to it.
He additionally would not need the crew to run from its struggles.
“It is by no means as unhealthy as it could appear, and it is by no means nearly as good as it could really feel,” James stated. “So I keep even-keeled all through the entire journey. I perceive it is a big [undertaking]. It is a course of for us. And I’ve all the time felt comfy when issues are uncomfortable, so I stay up for the method of us attempting to get higher.
“And us getting higher. Not attempting. We’ll get higher. We’ll enhance.”