The Los Angeles Lakers are on the cusp of championship No. 17
One thing we have learned throughout the years of watching LeBron James is to never count him out. Just as the series began to look as if the Miami Heat would swing the momentum and tie it up at two games apiece, James once again rose to the occasion as we are used to seeing from him in the playoffs on a yearly basis.
Just as he did in Game 3, James came out of the gate struggling in Game 4 committing turnovers and being sloppy with the ball early. James cleaned up the turnovers and adjusted accordingly as he came out after halftime more aggressive as he came alive scoring 20 of his 28 points in the second half.
This victory for the Los Angeles Lakers gives them a 3-1 lead as they are one win shy of their 17th title in the franchise’s storied history. Anthony Davis also played better in Game 4 after the Game 3 defeat and was dominant on the defensive end. He did an excellent job of protecting the paint while totaling four blocks and altering shots with his length and agility.
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Davis also guarded Jimmy Butler on some possessions cutting off his path to the basket and forcing him to either pass or take a shot he wasn’t comfortable taking. The strategic move to allow Davis to guard Butler was genius considering the offensive explosion Butler had in Game 3. Davis didn’t put up the consistent offensive numbers that we usually expect from him, but the way he impacted the game with his defense was more valuable than any amount of points he could have scored.
That’s why he was the runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-NBA Defense selection. The Heat did everything they could possibly do to slow Davis down and it did work to some extent. In the first two games of the series, Davis averaged 33 points per game. In Games 3 and 4, Davis’s scoring average dropped to 18.5.
The Heat attempted to keep Davis as far away from the basket as possible where he is most dangerous. The Heat players also prioritized where the help would come from when Davis touched the ball so they could rotate whenever he passed out of the double team to defend the shooters on the perimeter. Kyle Kuzma, Rajon Rondo, and Alex Caruso provided a spark off the bench for the Lakers as they scored a combined 18 points.
Rondo was cold shooting 14.3 percent from the field as he couldn’t find his stroke but contributed with seven rebounds and five assists while still playing stellar defense. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope played well scoring 15 points and connecting on three 3-pointers. Butler got off to a hot start as it appeared he was on pace for another 40-point performance after scoring 11 points and shooting a perfect 5-5 in the first quarter.
Butler played well scoring 22 while securing 10 rebounds and dishing nine assists with three steals. What led to the Heat’s demise was no production from their bench. The Heat’s bench was outscored 27-13 and it’s imperative that they contribute on offense and outperform the Lakers bench if they want to extend the series.
Butler can score in bunches if needed and can carry the offense but he can’t do it alone and won’t always be able to replicate his Game 3 performance. The Lakers are too good and will adjust accordingly while forcing someone else to step up and beat them. Bam Adebayo returned from injury in Game 4 and played well despite getting in foul trouble during key stretches of the game.
The Heat needs him to be assertive and make himself become a player the Lakers have to account for on both ends even though he has his hands full guarding Davis. Adebayo must find a way to be productive without allowing the pressure of playing against AD to affect him to the point of not plying his game.
He must remember who he is; an all-star caliber player who grinds and hustles doing the dirty work on the boards and a terrific defender whose not afraid of a challenge. He must be that same player who made that fearless game-saving block on Jayson Tatum in the Eastern Conference Finals. If he can elevate his level of play, then there exists a real possibility that we could see a Game 7.
The question to ask now is whether the Heat still has the confidence and the will to fight down 3-1 and try to stretch the series to seven games? The Heat has improved defensively of late, but James with his knowledge of the game and high basketball IQ always figures out a way to counter what the opposition is doing and that is what makes him so great.
That greatness has been the reason he has won three championships and three NBA Finals MVP’s as he looks to add another one of each if the Heat doesn’t figure out how to stop him.