After a historic NBA Cup victory, the LA Lakers are prepared to resume their business.
L.A., December 15 — After LeBron James and Anthony Davis led the Los Angeles Lakers to their first-ever NBA Cup victory, the champagne was flowing, but the season’s primary objective remained.
In the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament on Saturday, James and Davis guided the Lakers to a commanding 123-109 victory over Indiana, the tournament favorites.
In the championship game, Davis led the Lakers’ offensive with 41 points and 20 rebounds. In an effort to inject some enthusiasm into the first few games of the arduous NBA regular season, James finished the event with 24 points and 11 rebounds in addition to winning the award for Most Valuable Player.
All 30 NBA teams were divided into six groups for round-robin play, and James, the league’s all-time top scorer, said the Lakers’ 7-0 run through the tournament demonstrated that Los Angeles had what it took to make a serious run at the NBA championship playoffs.
He did, however, issue a warning: it was far too soon to discuss May and June and the possibility of the Lakers adding to their already-tied record of 17 NBA titles, which they share with the Boston Celtics.
James, who has four championship rings himself, stated, “I think that is thinking too far down the line.” “We need to remember that December is still here.
Although we are happy with where we are at the moment, we want to keep improving our habits and being healthier.
However, given our current December situation, I believe I would accept it. Though I am sure not looking to May and June, I would accept it.
“Our squad needs to take too many steps before we can become who we want to be when the postseason begins.”
Now that most of their early-season injury problems are behind them, the Lakers will focus on their regular-season matchup with the Mavericks in Dallas on Tuesday.
This marks the beginning of a three-game Texas tour that also includes two games against the Spurs and their great youngster Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio.
James claimed the Lakers’ performance in the tournament—particularly their victories against the Phoenix Suns in the quarterfinals and the New Orleans Pelicans in the semifinals—showed they were improving their defensive performance.
According to him, “we have to defend in order for us to win and win at the best level.” “Over the past few weeks, it is what we have been doing.”
After their miraculous run in the in-season tournament, the Pacers might find the switch to the regular season disconcerting.
James asserted that the Lakers’ performance in the tournament demonstrated their progress in defense, especially their wins over the Phoenix Suns in the quarterfinals and the New Orleans Pelicans in the semifinals.
“We have to defend in order for us to win, and win at the top level,” he declared. “That is what we have been doing for the past few weeks.”
The Pacers may find it unsettling to return to the regular season following their incredible performance in the in-season tournament.
“It is weird because everyone says this seems like the (collegiate) NCAA Tournament, but most of us are not graduating and we play on Monday,” Haliburton remarked as he was sitting in the locker room following the game.
Haliburton continued, “It is absolutely annoying,” and stated that the Pacers will need to swiftly press the reset button.
It is the same as the regular season at the end of the day. Game number is 22–23. I have to go on,” he murmured.
Adam Silver, the commissioner of the NBA, stated that one area the league is thinking about for potential future enhancements to the new tournament is scheduling.
The main issue would probably be giving teams that do not advance past group play any sort of scheduling assurance, as they would then have to “basically schedule games at the last minute.”
Before taking into account suggestions for adjustments to the tournament from clubs, players, the players’ union, and even fans, Silver stated that the league
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