It took until the final buzzer for the Crypto.com Arena crowd to fully grasp what had just happened. The Lakers pulled off a massive 117-96 win, and that too against the defending champs. Is it a sign of the Lakers’ strong form or a result of the Celtics’ slip-up? However, there’s no denying that the Purple and Gold deserve some credit. The next challenge will be just as tough, and while many would expect the team to build on this momentum, LeBron James quickly dismissed that notion.
During the post-game locker room interview, he was asked what the Lakers would carry over from their two straight home wins into their upcoming road trip. “Nothing,” LeBron responded. “We want a game at home, we protect the home, but our game plan would be different versus Steph (Curry) than it was versus this team and versus Golden State. Our game plan would be different.”
Their next challenge will be a visit to the Bay Area. So, the preparation is expected to be top-notch. But LeBron has kept Steve Kerr’s Warriors in the dark by not revealing the game plan. “How we execute that will put us in position to either win or lose, and you know, we have to play for 48 minutes, so that’s, you can’t, can’t use one game to the next game. It’s, you know, games are totally different.”
A LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry matchup is always a nail-biter, it’s one that the entire NBA community watches closely. Despite over a decade of head-to-head battles, the excitement hasn’t faded in the slightest. And after their dominance over the Celtics, the Lakers have sent a clear message not just to the Warriors, but to all 29 other NBA teams as well.
LeBron James and Co.’s performance against the Celtics sends shockwaves through the NBA
The streets of LA were buzzing on Saturday night as the Lakers faced off against the Celtics. Despite a less-than-elite run to start the season, leading some to doubt their championship potential before the halfway point, the Lakers stunned everyone with a 21-point win.
The team had taken the lead in the first half by scoring over 30 points in the first two quarters, which became hard for Boston to cut down the deficit. The third quarter was a drop for both teams, struggling to score but the final nail in the coffin came in the final quarter when the Lakers dominated again.
Going up against the team sitting second in the East and pulling off a win like that is certainly commendable. Leading the charge for the Lakers were Anthony Davis with 24 points, Austin Reaves adding 23, and LeBron James, who contributed 20 points and 14 rebounds. That’s exactly what the Lakers Nation would expect their favorite team to do. If the Lakers can maintain the same mindset against the Warriors, it’s hard to see how they could lose.
The Dubs are coming off two straight losses and have been inconsistent throughout the season. This makes the matchup a tough challenge for them. Now what head coach JJ Redick has planned for their rivals will be something to watch, especially with LeBron and the Lakers setting the bar so high.
