Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has shared his honest take on his team’s 123-109 season-opener defeat to the Golden State Warriors. James said Tuesday that LA lacked in delivering “great shooting.”
“We’re getting great looks, but it could also be teams giving us great looks. To be completely honest, we’re not a team that’s constructed of great shooting and that’s just the truth of the matter. It’s not like we’re sitting here with a lot of lasers on our team,” James said after the game.
LeBron James on Lakers’ poor shooting in loss to Warriors: “We’re getting great looks, but it could also be teams giving us great looks. To be completely honest, we’re not a team constructed of great shooting… It’s not like we’re sitting here with a lot of lasers on our team.” pic.twitter.com/VfqWnKcQ3D
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) October 19, 2022
The Lakers were trailing only a few points behind in the first half. However, the franchise was bested far in the third quarter at 32-19. James and Co. tried to turn things around in the last quarter, but to no avail.
Regardless, James asserted that the Lakers’ failed offense at Chase Center would not “deter” them from making “great shots” in future games.
Appreciate the love!! That's so 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Been a helluva ride up to this point. More to come! #Year20 👑 https://t.co/WJNSi9YcXU
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 18, 2022
“But that doesn’t deter us from still trying to get great shots. When you get those opportunities, you take them. We’re not sitting here with a bunch of 40-plus [percent] career three-point shooting guys,” James said.
James wrapped up the game with a team-leading 31 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. The 37-year-old was only two points behind the Warriors star shooter Stephen Curry with his game-high 33 points. Curry also made six rebounds and seven assists in the game.
Sooo Lebron has some thoughts: "We're not a team constructed of great shooting. It's not like we're sitting here with a lot of lasers on our team…like if you had a bunch of underneath route runners, the quarterback's not throwing 20+ yard passes downfield." pic.twitter.com/n4yJGdbVqS
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) October 19, 2022
Meanwhile, Lakers guard Russell Westbrook racked in 19 points despite being limited to a hamstring injury early in the season. The nine-time NBA All-Star also contributed 11 rebounds and three assists for the team.
Lakers’ shooting issue
There have been concerns about LA’s shooting this season, with Lakers VP of operations Rob Pelinka admitting that shooting is a “needed skill” for the team.
We've seen enough. Give up the damn picks, @Lakers.
— Ryan Rueda (@iDude14) October 19, 2022
After the defeat, many came to question whether the Lakers would be able to redeem their poor 33-49 overall record last season, and whether or not newly-hired coach Darvin Ham’s Lakers revival plan would work this season.
The team fired head coach Frank Vogel in April after missing out on last season’s playoffs. Under Vogel’s leadership, LA was able to finish fourth in the Pacific Division, which was a terrible finish compared to the team’s 2020-2021 season, where the Lakers finished third in the division.
It's even sweeter when it's front of the Lakers and LeBron James. #Warriors #RingNight
— Louie J. (@LouieJ23) October 19, 2022
Moreover, 2020 was the franchise’s last championship win and there’s a multitude of expectations on Ham to replicate the Lakers’ past success this season, especially with the star-studded roster in his hand — a list that includes King James, Westbrook, and forward Anthony Davis.
“He’s [Westbrook] ours. We love him, and we want him to do well,” Ham said despite fans being skeptical about the player’s stay in LA this season.
Nonetheless, James said he was happy to have the longtime assistant coach, who took his first-ever coaching gig this year, on board.
“Every single day continues to get better and better. The transparency that we have, from the day he was granted the head coaching job here, it’s been great,” James said.
“We’ve had multiple conversations. I think it was well overdue for him to be a head coach, and (I’m) overjoyed to be part of his journey.”