LeBron takes Lakers’ elimination.
LOS ANGELES — The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the postseason and with that, the possibility of a repeat title for the Los Angeles Lakers vanished.
Thursday night at Staples Center, the Lakers suffered a 113-100 loss in Game 6 to the Phoenix Suns, who advanced to the next round by winning four games to two.
“I was just telling Wesley Matthews now in the locker room that we never got to see our full team, the true potential of what this team was capable of because of injuries, COVID or otherwise. In the end all my appreciation and respect for this team that looked to fight in the face of adversity. Likewise, all credit to the Suns and what Monty Williams and Devin Booker have done,” said LeBron James after the elimination.
Anthony Davis tried his best to bounce back tonight after a groin injury suffered in Game 4, but it was not possible. Davis took the court in the starting lineup, but after five minutes he had to leave. Davis’ loss was very difficult to compensate for the purple and gold.
“(Davis) is a warrior, he tried to go out and play, we knew it would be hard for him to move. He got all the treatments to loosen up, we were hoping the adrenaline of the game would help a little bit too, but he wasn’t moving well at all in the game to the point where he couldn’t continue,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said.
Lakers came out with intensity and desperation in the game, knowing it was an elimination game for them. However, they simply could not contain Devin Booker, who scored 47 points.
“I love everything about Devin Booker, I’ve had many conversations with him in the past and he continues to make that leap in quality to get better. I’ve seen how he’s absorbed the advice and is showing great maturity at his young age to be dominant as he wants to be successful in this league,” said LeBron, who gave his autographed jersey to Booker post-game.
After the Orlando Bubble where the Lakers won the championship, they had very little time off before the start of the current season in December. Undoubtedly, the workload took its toll on the Angelenos, who suffered multiple injuries throughout the season that prevented them from finding their rhythm and cohesion as a team.
“Management signed players in free agency, we tried to stay competitive, navigate injuries as a staff, but the injuries were too much. Not having LeBron and Davis for extended periods this season was very difficult to establish cohesion against a team like Suns. This matchup with us being at 100 percent, I think it could have easily been a Conference Finals matchup, I would have liked to have seen that,” Vogel said.
LeBron James was also not at 100 percent physically after the ankle injury. Still, he found a way to fight with the group, but it wasn’t enough. This game he finished with 29 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.
“It will be good this break now for me, to rest, to recover, get my ankle back to 100 percent to how it was before that Atlanta game. Because it was actually still bothering me until now, it was never 100 percent,” said LeBron who was eliminated in a first round postseason game for the first time in his 15 career playoff appearances.
“Every season is different, beyond the records, I hope we all get back to being physically well.”
The Lakers will have an offseason and management will analyze who will remain on the roster to join LeBron and Davis.
“Rob (Pelinka) has done a great job in putting this team together over the last few years and will continue to do so. I trust him, he always asks my opinion, just like AD, but we want to keep improving. The most important thing right now is getting Davis back physically, that’s what matters most to us and that puts us in a good position to look to be successful next season,” LeBron concluded.
