On Why the Lakers Were Doomed From the Outset of the Season, LeBron James

LeBron James remarked that the Lakers’ struggles were evident long before their playoff exit against the Nuggets. He suggested that an early-season mistake may have contributed to their eventual downfall.

LeBron James, in an interview with JJ Redick on the Mind the Game Pod, acknowledged the Lakers’ shooting struggles early in the regular season, humorously stating, “We couldn’t hit the side of a f***ing cow’s ass from three-point [range].” He emphasized their difficulty in making three-pointers during the first month and a half to two months of the season.

LeBron further highlighted how the Lakers’ shooting challenges led them to rely heavily on free throws, resulting in the team ranking second in the league for free-throw attempts with 1,983 over 82 games.

He pointed out the discrepancy between their low ranking in three-point attempts (29th) and their high ranking in free-throw attempts, indicating that drawing fouls became a significant aspect of their game due to their struggles with three-point shooting.

During the regular season, the Lakers collectively shot 37.7 percent from three-point range over 82 games. Notably, LeBron James achieved a career-high of 41 percent from three, with D’Angelo Russell close behind at 41.5 percent.

However, in the postseason, the team’s three-point shooting dipped to 29.9 percent. LeBron maintained a solid 38.5 percent from three during the five-game series against the Nuggets, demonstrating his consistent performance.

On the other hand, Russell’s three-point shooting decreased to 31.8 percent in the playoffs. Role players like Austin Reaves shot 26.9 percent, and Taurean Prince shot 29.4 percent from beyond the arc, contributing to the team’s overall struggles in the postseason.