LeBron James, the star of the Los Angeles Lakers, remains optimistic despite the team being on the brink of elimination. After a 112-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of their first-round series, the Lakers now trail 3-0.
While no team has ever come back from such a deficit in a playoff series, the Lakers’ struggles extend further, having lost 12 consecutive games to the Nuggets since last season’s Western Conference Finals. Despite this, James, with his extensive experience spanning over two decades, maintains a fighting spirit.
In his postgame press conference, James emphasized taking it one game at a time and retaining belief as long as there is still life in the series. He stressed the importance of focusing on winning the next game to extend the series, acknowledging that they will continue to fight until the end.
However, the pressure seems to be mounting on some Lakers players. James and Anthony Davis contributed 59 points in Game 3, while the rest of the team combined for only 24 points. When asked about the pressure affecting his teammates, James refrained from speculating, stating that he cannot speak for them and emphasizing the need for individual assessment.
With their backs against the wall, James and Davis, with their championship experience, understand the demands of postseason success. Yet, James expressed uncertainty about whether some of his teammates grasp the level of commitment required to succeed in the playoffs.
On the Nuggets’ side, they remain focused on finishing off the Lakers despite their recent dominance. Nikola Jokic highlighted the challenge of facing the same team repeatedly and emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and consistency.
Despite averaging 118 points per game in the regular season, the Lakers have struggled offensively against the Nuggets, averaging just 102.3 points in the series. In Game 3, their poor shooting performance, particularly from beyond the arc, and their struggles on the boards contributed to the loss.
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