Lakers star LeBron James responds after a dunk during the third quarter of the Lakers 111-88 success over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference quarterfinals on Thursday. (Kevin C. Cox/ Associated Press) The chastened Hollywood group revealed up on the quarantine carpet Thursday with a completely different appearance.
The Lakers were dressed in fear, wrapped in seriousness, curtained in desperation.
They used it well.
Anthony Davis stormed. And LeBron James shouted, goodness how he shouted, marching and flexing and wailing into the empty stands of a Central Florida gym.
After the opener, Caldwell-Pope might have easily been benched, however Vogel publicly supported him, declared he played a good game, and then ran him back out there. With everyone complaining that the Lakers dont have a 3rd scoring choice because of the disparities in Kyle Kuzmas game, Vogel has staunchly created an atmosphere where everybody feels empowered to be that supporting star.
” We hoped Kuz would do that at the start of the season … he fought with injury and adapting to his brand-new role … what we found was a blessing,” said Vogel. “Were more of a different-guy-every-night-as-a-third-option type of group. … Thats much better than having one third alternative, to me.”
Then there is Davis, a rookie to big playoff moments who shot 8 of 24 in the opener and instantly put more pressure on himself, saying, “I knew I needed to be better.”
Instead of piling on, Lakers partner and mentor James propped him up, told him he was OK, relaxed him down.
” I was truly down on myself after Game 1,” said Davis. “He let me have my minute … then he talked with me and said I was fine … he was there for me to encourage me and keep me level-headed.”
Then, on Thursday, James backed off and let him stew.
” Bron, he didnt state one word to me today,” said Davis. “He sort of knew, he saw the look on my face.”
That look manifested itself in Davis scoring 16 first-half points in the paint, more than in the whole opener.
” He was just aggressive, from the beginning of the game,” said James, who was so enjoyed view that he scored simply 10 points. “He wasnt passive at all.”
The relationship between the stars will be a story as these playoffs continue. It will be framed with James as the stoic instructor, Davis as the anxious student, and the Lakers success based upon their connection.
” Hes been in my ear about whatever, specifically throughout the playoffs right now, hes seen it all,” said Davis. “Hes sort of simply been there for me, supporting me, assisting me through this entire process.”.
After a short scare, the enhancing Lakers culture seems to be working once again. Although, truly, who understood they would look so good dressed in scrappy? They may not want to put it back in the drawer just.
Plaschke reported from Los Angeles.
” Were developed different, dawg,” he exhorted his colleagues. “Were constructed different.”
At least for one night, they were, leveling their tenuous first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers with a thunderous roundhouse.
Two days after snoozing through a playoff-opening upset by the Blazers, the top-seeded Lakers played their finest game given that March, lastly popping off in the bubble with a 111-88 victory that pointed a finger at all the first-game critics like this one.
You really wish to bury us already?
” Dominate!” James screamed in the huddle before the video game, and the Lakers followed that playbook to the exclamation point.
After making one basket with one rebound in the 4th quarter of the opening humiliation, Davis had 31 points and 11 rebounds in 29 overwhelming minutes.
” It was a must-win video game for us, and we played that way,” stated Davis. “We had fun with sense of desperation and a sense of seriousness.”
After missing out on all nine of his shots in the opener, Caldwell-Pope sank a quartet of three-pointers and scored 16.
” I told him after Game 1, he began the season this way, with a couple of tough nights, a bit of a shooting depression, and all he did is go shoot 40% for the next four months, by staying confident, remaining real to his work,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel stated of Caldwell-Pope. “Hes a substantial part of what weve done. He exemplifies the play-harder-than-our-opponent mindset.”
Then there was McGee and Dwight Howard and Davis and all the Lakers tough-guy defenders who integrated to hold the highest-scoring bubble team to 58 points through 3 quarters. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, the Blazers twin gunners, integrated to make 2 of 12 shots from long range.
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” Were playing scrappy, were completing at a really high level, the care element on the protective side of the ball is where it must be … to win in the playoffs,” stated Vogel.
It was the very first Lakers playoff success in more than 8 years. It was likewise a win that might count for 4, as Lillard suffered a dislocated left index finger late in the 3rd quarter and didnt return. Without their leader at complete strength, despite the fact that the series is connected at one game each, the Blazers could be toast.
” Its simply aching … a little bit swollen and unpleasant. … I didnt even want to take a look at it,” said Lillard later.
Sounds lovely. The Blazers have long shot unless Lillard is heaving them in from Cocoa Beach. Even if he recovers, they have zero chance if the Lakers are chasing them into the Everglades, as they did Thursday with 9 takes that helped lead to Portlands 17 turnovers.
” I thought the Lakers were much more aggressive,” said Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts, later on adding, “We looked a little sluggish and didnt have the exact same pop.”
Lillard put it in more fundamental terms, stating, “They just went after it more difficult than we did … we got our butts kicked tonight.”
When Caldwell-Pope essentially opened the video game with successive three-pointers, the Trail Blazers knew they were in difficulty. By the time Caldwell-Pope soaked after a floor-length pass from Davis to give the Lakers a 21-point lead early in the third quarter, they knew it was over.
That was among the moments when James stalked off the court flexing and exclaiming how nobody is developed like them. If you think of it, hes ideal.
This is a team that started the season stranded in China. They endured a midseason disaster with the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, child Gianna, and 7 others. They entered into the bubble without their best protector in the opted-out Avery Bradley.
” I just know what type of season weve had this year … its been 3 or 4 seasons in one,” said James. I understand how were developed.
That frame of mind is one of team effort and tolerance, as illustrated by Thursdays two stars.
” I informed him after Game 1, he began the season this method, with a couple of tough nights, a little bit of a shooting downturn, and all he did is go shoot 40% for the next 4 months, by remaining confident, remaining true to his work,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said of Caldwell-Pope. It was the very first Lakers playoff success in more than 8 years. Even if he recuperates, they have absolutely no possibility if the Lakers are chasing them into the Everglades, as they did Thursday with 9 takes that helped lead to Portlands 17 turnovers.
” I simply know what type of season weve had this year … its been 3 or four seasons in one,” stated James. After a brief scare, the enriching Lakers culture seems to be working once again.
