Lakers News: How LeBron James Dialed In For Game 6 Win
Los Angeles Lakers All-Star small forward LeBron James knew that he would need to step up for LA following a miserable Game 5 performance on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN writes. As he head coach Darvin Ham detailed, James was clearly dialed in for LA's 125-85 blowout win over the Grizzlies Friday.
"He was just going through his pregame routine, like he always does," head coach Darvin Ham told Shelburne. "He was ready."
He finished with 22 points while shooting 9-of-13 from the field, passed for six assists and grabbed five rebounds in just 31:15. His Lakers will enjoy a significant rest advantage over whomever they wind up playing in their second round matchup, as the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors clearly find themselves in the midst of a hotly contested Game 7 battle today.
"We weren't ourselves for that [Game 5]," Ham said in remarks to the press. "We really looked a little gassed. But we all talked through text and it was one of those things where you knew, you felt the vibe as soon as we got to the arena."
James delivered a reportedly inspirational postgame speech to his LA comrades after the victory, per Shelburne.
"We've got a young ballclub with not much experience in the postseason," James said. "So I try to give my knowledge about what I've been through, what they could expect... As hard as this series felt and as hard as this series was, it gets even harder when you move a level up."
"To be able to put on a Laker uniform and play for such a historical franchise, it's always an honor," James noted. "The connection, I think you got to ask the Laker fans. I feel welcome. I'm happy to go out there and perform and showcase what I'm still able to do, 20 years in the game. Hopefully I'll just add to more memories that they've had for so long with so many great players and so many great teams. Hopefully I can be a part of some of those memories."
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