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This is the online version of our morning newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to receive irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Charles Curtis replaces Andy Nesbitt today.
Already everyone is pumping the brakes here.
Saw your reviews and lagging tweets – LeBron couldn’t make it through the first round of the NBA Playoffs for the first time in his career, what kind of a GOAT is he if he’s really the GOAT ?? What is there without handshakes?
Let’s go. Stop that.
The Los Angeles Lakers retiring from the playoffs after a Game 6 loss to James were far from James’ fault, and there are various reasons for that. But let’s start with the fact that the non-100 percent superstar averaged 23.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 8 apg, and 1.5 spg. These are amazing numbers. He tried!
But let’s look at other factors here:
1. Health! James was hampered, Anthony Davis (Charles Barkley was savage for nicknamed “Street Clothes”) was injured during the regular season and was unable to play in Game 5 and much of Game 6. That is out of your control, especially when …
2. The compressed offseason hurts. The Lakers won a title on October 11, then kicked off 2020-21 two months later! It turned out – as everyone has guessed – to be a huge problem for this team and their aging but ageless superstar.
3. The supporting actors struggled. Other than Dennis Schroder, there were problems everywhere. Andre Drummond, Kyle Kuzma (17.4% at distance), Montrezl Harrell (who barely played), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (21.1% out of three), Alex Caruso, Marc Gasol… it was not enough for help a hobbled Lakers team.
4. The Suns are really, really good. Can we give them credit? This team is mega deep and tough, and here is a team that has found ways to cover an injured Chris Paul.
So let’s stop all the hatred of LeBron. Because when next season rolls around, a rested Lakers team might be tough to beat with a full offseason.
Quick hits: Vanessa Bryant calls Nike… Why Coach K got into THIS song… Tyreek Hill equalized by his own teammate… and more.
(Photo by Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
– Vanessa Bryant was naturally heated in an Instagram post on the leak of “Mambacita” Kobe 6.
– Wondering what the deal was with Duke’s coach, Mike Krzyzewski, entering his retirement press conference every time we touch? We explained it.
– Discover this chic exchange between Ja Morant’s father and jazz star Donovan Mitchell.
– You’ll laugh at Tyreek Hill getting leveled by Orlando Brown during OTAs. Believe me.
NBA team logos: Ranking of the best logos from 1 to 30 See 30 photos
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