Portland, Oregon – The Lakers are looking for answers that they will maximize their start-rio. For the star duo of LeBron James and Austin Reeves, things were a little less messy on Thursday night.
James and the Raves made the biggest shots, got the biggest stops, pushing the Lakers into a 110-102 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on a night when they didn’t have Luka Donsic.
James scored 40 on his second consecutive night, with the Reaves adding 32. Both players also scored key stops as Portland (23-33) was pushed in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers’ fight to win, especially from James and Reeves, gave managers awe and praise.
“He really ignores anything normal. And it’s not just physical feats and theatre. It’s mentality,” Reddick said of James. “I think he saw the other day, he’s a billionaire, and he’s playing on the second night of his 40-year-old replacement 22 years later, paying all the praises and… He is one of his greatest competitors.
“And Nate (McMillan, assistant) and I were talking about it before the game. He’s great for the coach. He brings it every day. …He’s going to make you approach this craft. I’m setting the standard for the way that is supposed to be done, and that’s the most incredible thing for me. Do it, wake up the next day, do it, wake up the next day, wake up, and many times It’s just a way of thinking too.”
So why not take a break from the night?
“I still love the game, and I did a lot to do with the game, gave it to my teammates, and there was a lot to give to this league while I was here,” James said. “I don’t have much time. So, while I’m here today, I’ll try to give you what I got when I was on the floor. So why? It’s the love of the game, and I’m now, my son You will have the opportunity to show your professional rank in this league, and to be with him (with him) every day, it’s a treat.”
And at Reaves, Redick has players who were constantly fighting the Portland team. The Reaves made a massive defensive play in the fourth quarter, moving the Lakers ahead.
“He’s going to give you every ounce of competitive juice he has every night,” Reddick said. “That’s really what it’s tied together.”
The Lakers’ version to end this season is not nearly decided. They’re stuck between the version that worked for over .500 games and the version they committed when they traded Anthony Davis and Max Christie for Doncic.
Donsic, who has played in three games since Christmas, is expected to play in a moving forward consecutive game, with Redick saying the team is cautious about the guard’s return from calf tension.
“After practice, we sat down with him on Tuesday night, talking to him, and he’s all in,” Reddick said of Donsic. “He’s shocked and all the mental parts, and he’s in a really good place. And now we have to physically take him where he needs to be Luca. It won’t happen.”
Doncic and Jarred Vanderbilt are on track to play in Denver on Saturday.
The Lakers (33-21) are still waiting for Donsic to enter some sort of rhythm after a long absence, but Redick focuses on finding a way for James, Reeves and Donsic to shine together I said it was matching.
“It’s all of us. It’s not just the staff. It’s the players too. They and we work together to find the balance so that the three best players can be in the best,” Reddick said. I said that. “I’ve seen this happen in the NBA a million times. It doesn’t happen in three games. It may not happen in three months. It’s the reality of how these things work. That’s what we’re all trying to make it work. I think we can all organize a little more.”
But the Lakers showed Thursday, coupled with fatigue from one of the toughest consecutive consecutive successors in the NBA schedule flying from Los Angeles to Portland, rusted from the All-Star break, making it appear on Thursday. was shown. .
“The best way to compete in this league is to play hard,” James said. “If you can play hard, you can get through a lot of games. You can hide a lot of mistakes.”
James’ ratings needed to win the NBA were reflected in his coach.
“I didn’t know about this revelation six weeks ago, two months ago,” Reddick said. “And mathematics stuff, that’s important. It’s really true. Try generating high value shots. You’ll develop a strategy, like everything, with a focus on the throw-ahead and what they create. That’s very important. Game plans defensively, it’s all important. Everyone has to communicate. In reality, there’s only one cheat code in the NBA, but that’s hard work. Play hard every night and you have a chance to win. If you don’t play hard every night, you’ll probably lose.
“…If you play hard, you give us the opportunity to win every night.”
