Is it me or does Jimmy Butler have a history of missing back breaking free throws in close games? Maybe he's not as mentally strong as he comes across or looks.
Rockets are next game Prediction: Rockets go into the 4th quarter with a 22 point lead and then proceed to blow it and lose the game. The Lakers, shocked that they came back (not realizing that this is just what the Rockets seem to do) are re-energized, motivated, and go into a hot streak that ends with them squeeking into the playoffs it's going to be our Rockets fault for re-vitalizing the Lakers. However, I will be rooting that we put a dagger into that club and finish them off. Capela will be back. The prediction before tonight was that the Lakers can't lose 8 games.. now that they lost to the Hawks the magic number goes down to 7
Lakers still have Milwaukee twice, Toronto, Boston, Denver, and Houston prior to April. They better figure out how to win some of those game because that April schedule is brutal (@OKC, GS, @LAC(No rest), Utah, Portland)
I sort of agree. Lebrons groin is still not 100% and that needs to be considered However, at the end of the game the Hawks were attacking Lebron as if he was the defensive weak link
Lebron's at a stage in his career where being 100% is going to be less common. Minor nicks, etc. are going to keep happening. Hamstring, strains, soreness, etc. Also keep in mind Lebron peaked in a very different NBA. He has adjusted well to the changes that have happened to the league and the opening up of the three ball, but he's not nearly the threat he once was in this new offensive paradigm. I'm sure he'll still have games he takes over, but they will be fewer, and I think there's a real chance the Lakers miss the playoffs (and if they make it, a good chance they lose swiftly in the first round). To be honest, if Lebron hadnt chosen to come to the Lakers and they still had Dlo Russell and Julius Randle and hadnt blown all that money on vets like Rondo, Stevenson, etc. they'd probably have a similar record to what they have right now with a much brighter prospect of attracting talent to come play around a core of DLo, Randle, and Kuzma vs. the group they've got now.
groin injury was fake LeBron was diagnosed with a grade 1 sports hernia. The league and the media covered it up
Frustrating that we need the Jazz to lose and the Warriors are just BS'ing around tonight. The teams near us in the standings simply aren't losing lately.
