Tag: Lakers

Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Wednesday’s Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Phoenix Suns (13-20) visit the Los Angeles Lakers (26-7) Wednesday at Staples Center for a 10:30 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the Suns-Lakers odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

The Suns are 1-2 on a current four-game road trip, winning their last two: 122-116 at the Portland Trail Blazers Monday and 112-110 at the Sacramento Kings Saturday. Devin Booker and Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 33 and 29 points, respectively, as the Suns overcame a 19-point deficit after the first quarter in Portland.

The Lakers are also on a two-game win streak, most recently defeating the Dallas Mavericks 108-95 at home Sunday. Anthony Davis led the charge with 23 points, while LeBron James finished with 13 points and 13 assists on his 35th birthday. LeBron also became the ninth player in NBA history to reach 9,000 career assists in the win.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.

Suns at Lakers: Key injuries

Suns

  • PF Frank Kaminsky (knee) questionable

Lakers

  • PF Anthony Davis (shoulder) probable

Suns at Lakers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 7:45 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Lakers 118, Suns 112

Moneyline (ML)

The Lakers are going to win if Anthony Davis plays or not. They’re such big ML favorites (-625), it’s not worth the risk vs. the payoff. Every $6.25 wagered on the Lakers will only profit $1 if they win. If you’re willing to take a shot that the Suns (+450) somehow pull of an upset, they offer a 4.5-to-1 payoff, but I’m going to PASS.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The SUNS (+11.5, -115) are the STRONGEST PLAY. It’s just too many points. They’re 3-1 ATS as an underdog between 10-12 points, while the Lakers are 3-4 ATS as a 10- to 12-point favorite. The Suns are also 7-4 ATS as a road dog.

New to sports betting? Every $1.15 wagered on the Suns here will profit $1 if they win outright or stay within 12 points in a loss. (Ex: Bet $11.50 to profit $10 or bet $115 to profit $100).

Over/Under (O/U)

A slight lean to the OVER 224.5 (-129). If Davis doesn’t play, I like it even more as the Lakers defense – ranked fourth in points allowed (105.3 PPG) – will take a hit. L.A. can replace A.D.’s scoring, but it can’t replace his team-leading blocks (2.5 BPG) and steals (1.5 SPG). Meanwhile, Phoenix, which is 20-13 O/U on the season and on a little bit of a roll, gives up 115.1 PPG and both offenses rank in the top-9 in scoring.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Johnny’s December record: 22-10-1. Strongest plays: 11-3.

Follow @JohnnyParlay11 and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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How Dwight Howard has had a resurgence in bench role with Lakers

Dwight Howard has revitalized his career in reserve role with the Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard has regularly been a starter, but his role as a reserve this season has helped revitalize his career.

Howard is playing a career-low 19.6 minutes a game, but his effectiveness during those minutes has been of the utmost importance to the Lakers. Though Howard is averaging a career-low 7.1 points, his offensive output has been assisted by LeBron James, one of the best playmakers of all time.

With James’ basketball intellect, his teammates are regularly in good positions to score. That dynamic was prevalent for Howard on Sunday night, when the Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 108-95.

Howard scored all of his 15 points in the second quarter and shot 6-of-7 from the field. James assisted on three of Howard’s field goals, with each of them being dunks. When Howard scores 15 or more points, the Lakers are 3-1.

One of the Lakers’ best lineups features Howard and James. The rest of the lineup consists of Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma. According to NBA.com, in the seven games this lineup has played together, it has a net-rating of 26.8 over seven games. The lineup averages 6.5 minutes together, and it shoots 56.6% from the field and 52.8% from the 3-point line.

This is a lineup where Howard can truly shine because of the spacing that’s created. With James and Rondo as the playmakers, Howard is in prime positions for dunks and dives to the rim. With his 3-point shooting Caldwell-Pope helps space the floor, and Kuzma is a solid scorer.

The Lakers have taken advantage of Howard’s ability to play around the rim, whether it be for dunks or layups. Howard is shooting 81.7% of his field goals from within 0-3 feet of the hoop. According to Basketball Reference, that number is a career-high for shots from that distance. Howard is also shooting a career-high 85.4% from that distance.

Aside from his offensive impact, Howard also has been effective on defense. A three-time defensive player of the year, Howard has shown flashes of his prime when he was with the Orlando Magic.

Howard is averaging 1.4 blocks per game this season, ranking third on the Lakers behind Anthony Davis and JaVale McGee. Howard is averaging 5.9 contested 2-point shots this season, according to NBA.com.

The aforementioned offensive lineup that features Howard is also one of the Lakers’ best defensive ones. With that lineup, Howard plays center and is the anchor for the Lakers’ defense. His play on the interior helps the lineup give up 14.0 opponent points per game, according to NBA.com. 

For a grouping that doesn’t even average seven minutes together, this lineup is solid on both ends of the floor. With James being the only starter in the group, he leads the Lakers’ core bench players.

An eight-time All-Star, Howard’s days of being a top 10 player are gone. But as he plays his 16th NBA season, Howard is one of the Lakers’ most important players on both ends of the floor.

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LeBron James responds to Kyle Kuzma’s trainer: ‘I could care less about the guy’

Here comes the Lakers drama.

The Los Angeles Lakers seemed unstoppable just a few weeks ago, but after a four-game losing streak was capped by a loss to the rival Clippers on Christmas Day, critics of the Lakers are getting louder. Earlier this week, Kyle Kuzma’s own trainer attempted to start a beef with LeBron James, which the four-time MVP squashed on Saturday.

On Friday, Instagram posts surfaced from Kyle Kuzma’s trainer, Clint Parks, that included harsh criticism of Lakers star LeBron James.

Parks called James out after his Christmas Day performance against the Clippers, insinuating that it was clear that James’ Los Angeles counterpart Kawhi Leonard had sharper skills than James.

Kuzma’s trainer claimed that LeBron James was running from the matchup against Leonard and, basically, wasn’t as good as he was being made out to be.

Then, all of a sudden, Kuzma dropped a tweet himself that said “Call a spade a spade” with a shrug emoji. The tweet was deleted shortly after it was posted.

Boy, that paragraph was peak 2019. Anyway, take a look.

The next day, James was asked about the criticism from Kuzma’s trainer and the deleted tweet from his own teammate. He said Kuzma came to him to address the situation and it was fine, but he also had some not-so-kind words for Kuzma’s trainer.

“Kuz came to me yesterday, after practice and told me what was going on. And that was it. I really don’t care for someone’s trainer or whatever the case may be. Everyone can have their own opinion and anytime someone wants to get some notoriety they can throw my name in and people are going to pick it up. That’s why you’re asking me about it, because my name was in it. I’ve never met the guy, I don’t know the guy, I could care less about the guy.”

Sheesh. That’s a scathing statement from James and not a great look for Kuzma. Even if Kuzma isn’t openly endorsing his trainer’s comments, it’s never great to have to go and explain something to a teammate of yours after practice.

Hopefully, it doesn’t lead to a disruption in chemistry down the line for the Lakers. They certainly don’t need it — they’re losers of four straight and have a matchup on the road against the Trail Blazers coming up. Now isn’t the time for drama.

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Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Christmas Day’s Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Los Angeles Lakers (24-6) visit the Los Angeles Clippers (22-10) Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. ET at Staples Center (on ABC) as part of the NBA’s Christmas Day extravaganza. We analyze Lakers-Clippers odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

The Lakers enter on a three-game skid, recently falling at home to the Denver Nuggets 128-104 Sunday, but LeBron James didn’t play due to a thoracic muscle strain. The Clippers lost at the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-112 Sunday

The Clippers beat the Lakers 112-102 on opening night in their only head-to-head meeting of the season so far. Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points in the win, while James finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds and Anthony Davis tallied 25 points and nine boards for the Lakers – Danny Green actually led the Lakers with 28 points in the loss.

Special New Jersey Christmas NBA prop bet

A can’t miss NBA prop bet is available for Christmas day games. BET $1, WIN $200 (in free bets) IF ANY NBA team playing December 25th, 2019 hits a 3-pointer. Bet now!

Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.

Clippers at Lakers: Key injuries

Lakers

  • PG LeBron James (ribs) probable, expected to play
  • PF Anthony Davis (knee) probable, expected to play
  • PF Kyle Kuzma (ankle) probable

Clippers at Lakers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 1 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Lakers 113, Clippers 107

Moneyline (ML)

The LAKERS (-129) are worth a wager if you don’t want to play the spread and take the chance of the LeBron and Co. not covering the small number. Every $1.29 wagered on the Lakers would profit $1 if they win. I don’t put too much emphasis on home and away records in this one since both teams call Staples Center home. However, the Clippers (+105) are 8-8 on the road and the Lakers are 10-3 at home

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The LAKERS (-1.5, -115) are the STRONGEST PLAY as long as reports about LeBron and Davis playing are true. The Lakers are 16-14 ATS, including 0-5 in their last five games. The Clippers are 18-14 ATS and 2-3 ATS in their last five. When it comes down to it, I’ll put my money on LeBron any day.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 223.5 (-115) is the play. Both teams usually play to the Under – the Clippers are 15-17 O/U on the season, while the Lakers are 13-17 O/U. The Clippers average 115.7 points per game to the Lakers’ 112.3 PPG. But on the defensive side, the Clippers allow 108.6 PPG and the Lakers allow a 104.9 PPG

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Johnny’s December record: 15-6-1. Strongest plays: 8-1.

Johnny’s NBA plays: 14-6-1. Strongest plays: 7-2.

Follow @JohnnyParlay11 and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Doc Rivers talks coaching in both Battle of L.A. and Lakers-Celtics

The Lakers-Clippers Christmas Day matchup has the potential to be one of the best games of the season.

Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers will go down as one of the best coaches in NBA history, and as part of his career, he’s had the privilege to lead two of the Lakers’ rivals.

Rivers coached the Boston Celtics for nine seasons, leading them to a title in 2008 and one other NBA Finals appearance in 2010. The Celtics played the Lakers in both Finals, with the Lakers taking the championship in 2010. Per Mark Medina of USA Today, Rivers talked about the difference in how he’s perceived the Lakers coaching both the Battle of L.A and Lakers-Celtics bouts.

The Lakers and Clippers will square off in a Christmas Day marquee matchup, with tip off set for 8 p.m. EST.

“It’s different for sure because the Celtic-Laker thing had this thing going long before,” Rivers said. “Everybody in the organization — Magic (Johnson) told me a great story years later. We (the Celtics) beat them (the Lakers) in 2008, he had a sit down with all those guys. (He said), ‘You guys don’t understand the rivalry. You gotta get involved in it.'”

The Celtics-Lakers rivalry has gone on throughout the NBA’s history, as the two teams have met 11 times in the Finals since the Lakers started playing in Los Angeles during the 1960-61 season.

The Lakers used to play in Minneapolis, and the Celtics played them once in the Finals while they played in Minnesota. Including when the Lakers played in Minneapolis, the Celtics have defeated the Lakers in the Finals nine times.

Rivers acknowledged how the Clippers and Lakers don’t have the history with their rivalry, but he did mention how proximity plays a factor.

“But we are in town,” Rivers said. “We see each other. And so that creates its own rivalry, even when the teams are good or bad. In-town rivals are in-town rivals, just like high school.”

The Lakers and Clippers are ranked first and fourth, respectively, in the Western Conference. The Clippers currently lead the season’s series 1-0, but the Christmas Day matchup has the potential to be one of the best games all season.

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Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers (24-5) host the third-place Denver Nuggets (19-8) Sunday at Staples Center for a 9:30 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the Nuggets-Lakers odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.

Nuggets at Lakers: Key injuries

Nuggets

  • C Bol Bol (foot) out
  • PF Paul Millsap (knee) questionable

Lakers

  • C DeMarcus Cousins (knee) out
  • PF Anthony Davis (ankle) probable
  • SF LeBron James (core) doubtful
  • PF Kyle Kuzma (ankle) probable

Nuggets at Lakers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 1 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Nuggets 107, Lakers 103

Moneyline (ML)

The Lakers (-167) remain home favorites after losing back-to-back games for the first time all season. The NUGGETS (+140) are a great value play with plus-money amid a five-game winning streak. Neither team is at full health, but it’s the Lakers being hit harder with each of their top-three scorers battling some form of injury.

Bettors will want to see Millsap cleared before going too heavily on the Nuggets, but they’re worth at least a small wager at +140. A $10 bet for Denver to upset LA and win outright would return a profit of $14.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The moneyline is a better play for those backing the Nuggets (+3.5, -115) in what’s projected as a one-possession game. The Lakers (-3.5, -106) are 16-13 ATS overall and 8-4 ATS at home, while the Nuggets are 11-13-3 ATS overall and 4-5-2 ATS on the road. The more profitable play is on the true upset, and that’s where my money will be going Sunday. PASS.

Over/Under (O/U)

Take the OVER 209.5 (+105). Even with impactful injuries on both sides, this total is low. The two teams combine to score 219.5 points per game and allow 205.8 PPG. It’s tough to see either team being held below 100 points.

Esten’s NBA betting record: 110-77

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Lakers’ Anthony Davis thinks James Harden can get 70, 80 in a game

Lakers’ star Anthony Davis spoke highly of Rockets scoring machine James Harden.

Houston Rockets star James Harden is having (another) season for the ages, averaging a stunning 38.9 points per game and changing the way the basketball world views elite scorers in the process.

It’s been remarkable watching Harden put the ball through the basket at such an incredible rate and his pursuit of a possible 40 points per game average for the season will be one of the most captivating individual storylines for the remainder of the NBA season.

And it’s not just fans and media members that are marveling at Harden’s exploits. He’s also captured the attention of his fellow players, and one of the best, Los Angeles Lakers’ star Anthony Davis, spoke about Harden on The Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday.

Patrick asked Davis who the best player he’s played against this season was and Davis started by saying he can’t single any one player out yet because they haven’t played everyone, and that’s when the conversation shifted to Harden, with Davis joking that “James is averaging 100 points a game.” Davis and his Lakers will get their first look at Harden and the Rockets on January 18 in Houston.

The mention of Harden and the Rockets prompted Patrick to ask Davis if he thought Harden would score 70 or 80 in a game.

Here is how Davis responded:

“For sure. I mean the things he’s able to do on the basketball floor is unreal. We haven’t seen anyone like it. You know, to get to the free-throw line with ease, his step-back, he’s able to pass, so I think it’s definitely coming.”

Here’s video of the exchange, with the Harden/Rockets discussion starting at the seven-minute mark.

Aside from the fact that it’s high praise coming from one of the best players in the league, a few things stand out in Davis’ comments.

Harden has turned getting to the free-throw line into an art form and it’s something we now see other players trying to emulate. However, he has also drawn criticism from some fans for the style, who have used it to try to discredit his scoring prowess.

Harden’s response? He recently put up back-to-back 50-point games without taking more than six free-throws in either game. Clearly, Harden has weaponized free throws in a way we haven’t seen, but it’s really just a small part of what makes his so great.

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It was also interesting to hear Davis mention Harden’s passing. Another knock on Harden from his detractors is that he’s a gunner who scores at the detriment of his team. Harden’s 7.4 assists per game (No. 7 in the NBA) and Houston’s 18-9 record easily dispell that narrative, but having one of the best players in the game mention it doesn’t hurt either.

Davis feels like a 70 or 80-point outburst from Harden is “definitely coming,” and it’s hard to argue against it. Harden has already dropped 60 in just 31 minutes this season against the Hawks, and the game being a blowout was the only thing that prevented him from scoring more.

Harden has become one of the most polarizing players in the league, but it’s clear he has the respect of his colleagues. It would probably be wise for the rest of the basketball world to get on board and enjoy the show, before it’s too late.

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The Pacers showed how to beat LeBron, but Lakers fans shouldn’t be worrying

The Pacers showed how to stop LeBron James and the Lakers. Could they do it with Anthony Davis on the floor? That’s another question.

The Pacers hung on and beat the Anthony Davis-less Lakers on Tuesday night, winning 105-102. It’s the first time the Lakers have lost away from Staples Center this year, and it made me ask: Are the Pacers doing something that other teams can replicate when it comes to stopping L.A.?

The answer is yes and no. The big asterisk, as was mentioned in the first sentence of this here article, was that Anthony Davis wasn’t playing in the game. Without Davis, the Lakers go from borderline un-guardable to a solid, strong, yet beatable NBA team.

You saw this in the way the Pacers played James in the last few possessions of the game on Tuesday night. Malcolm Brogdon was tasked with on-ball guard duties for the most part, and did admirably, fighting over screens and sticking with James for the most part.

Brogdon had a security blanket in Myles Turner, however, and Turner was able to stay close to the basket.

Why? Without Davis in there to space the floor from the 5-position, the Lakers went with Dwight Howard down the stretch. Howard plays closer to the basket than Davis does, which allowed Turner to pull double duty — he could stick close enough to Howard to deny the entry pass into the post, but could also get out to contest if James went for a floater.

The rest of the Pacers defenders hung with the shooters, so when James came running off a pick, he was forced to either try and get a floater over the outstretched hands of Turner, or force the ball into Howard’s hands.

It worked for the Lakers, at times, especially getting the ball to Howard — Dwight finished with 20 points on 10-10 shooting, mostly easy dunks. For the Pacers, though, that was fine — they gummed up James’ game (he finished with 20 points on 8-20 shooting, and 4 for 8 from the line) and tried to deny him facilitating to shooters. Without Davis, the Pacers’ bigs were able to clog up the paint and force James to facilitate instead of getting to the rack and finishing.

It was good and smart, but I’m not sure how that’ll work with Davis on the court. With him on the floor during crunch time, he’ll take six steps back and force the opposing big to make a decision. If the big goes with Davis, James has an open path to the basket. If he leaves Davis open, well, Davis doesn’t miss much.

The Pacers showed how to beat LeBron James and the Lakers. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers? Not so much.

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LeBron breaks out the purple and gold ‘Lake Show’ Nike LeBron 17 colorway in Atlanta

LeBron James breaks out the purple and gold ‘Lake Show’ Nike LeBron 17 colorway in Atlanta for Los Angeles Lakers matchup with Hawks.

LeBron James’ high school teammate, Romeo Travis, posted a picture of LeBron and his Fab Five crew from St. Vincent-St. Mary following their alma mater’s ESPN matchup with Bronny James and Sierra Canyon on Saturday. In the photo that Travis shared on Twitter, LeBron was the only person not wearing his signature sneaker.

When it came time to tip-off against the Hawks in Atlanta on Sunday, however, King James was back on brand. LeBron took the floor against Trae Young and company wearing a purple and gold colorway of his recently released LeBron 17’s. The shoe is decorated in various shades of purple and features a gold tongue, gold laces and gold swoosh on the sole. It is also a near perfect match with the away uniforms that James and the Lakers were rocking in the ATL.

Through three quarters on the road against the Hawks, LeBron has totaled 26 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Superstar teammate Anthony Davis has scored 21 points and collected nine boards while helping the Lakers build an 82-78 lead heading into the final period. Young has 23 points and seven assists for a Hawks team that continues to compete. Los Angeles had previously led by seven points at halftime.

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LeBron James is displaying his versatile skill set in the purest way this season

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is leading the NBA in assists and is averaging a career-low in minutes per game this season.

Throughout his career, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has possessed an extraordinary all-around game, with his playmaking skills making him one of the most talented players in NBA history. But his current performance this season may be the purest expression of his skillset that we’ve ever seen as he continues to challenge the limits of greatness in season No. 17.

Often, the versatility of LeBron’s skills has had to be placed in the background for more practical reasons. He’s had to take on a big chunk of the scoring load several times throughout his career, with his rookie season being the only time he didn’t average 25 or more points a game.

This season is different, though. For once, he’s not leading his team in scoring, though he is second behind Anthony Davis. James is averaging a career-high 10.8 assists per game and is the league’s leader in assists. If he keeps this pace, he will lead the NBA in assists for the first time in his storied career.

A player that’s wowed audiences for almost two decades, James is using his skill set in perhaps the purest way he ever has in his NBA career this season with the Lakers. He’s been playing point guard, although one could argue James has been a “point guard” his whole career. Never one to tout himself as a “scorer,” even as one of the most prolific in NBA history, James has been allowed to play basketball in a style that suits his preferences this year.

A player that’s been compared to Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, James’ stands alone, with his unique style of play never being more apparent than this season. A big part of that is because he has the perfect pick-and-roll partner in Davis. The duo has run the action beautifully this season, with Davis scoring 4.1 points a game as a roll man, per NBA.com. 

Davis has already solidified himself as one of the most talented teammates James has played with. He’s up there with Dwyane Wade and Kyrie Irving. Davis’ game complements James’ skill set well, with his ability to score in multiple ways, inside and outside. Davis has won Player of the Week twice this season for the Lakers and is coming off back-to-back games of 39 and 50 points.

Davis has allowed LeBron’s playmaking to flourish. Per NBA.com, the assist points created tallies the number of points a player or team makes through assists. Assist points created began being recorded in 2013-14, and since then James has ranked in the top 10 of the category six times, including this season. This season, James leads the league in assist points created (27.1). He’s also doing this while averaging a career-low 34.4 minutes per game.

Whether it’s seeing an open driving lane or finding an open teammate on the fastbreak, James can usually make any play he wants.  In the video below, James floated a pass to Davis, who was running up the floor. Possessing great court vision is an important part of being a good passer, and James has some of the best court vision ever. Likely the best ever.

Davis’ quality play has helped James immensely. In addition, though, James is arguably playing with one of the best-supporting casts he’s ever had in his career in terms of spacing. With shooters such as Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, this roster is simply built for James to succeed at the highest level. Green and Caldwell-Pope are both shooting at least 38% from the 3-point line. In Cleveland and in Miami, shooting around LeBron meant great things and this season has been no different.

He also has some help handling the ball. Alex Caruso and Rajon Rondo have come off the bench to share ball-handling and facilitating duties, giving James a break so he doesn’t have to get his minutes too high. Rondo is second in assists on the team behind James, and Caruso ranks fourth.

Dwight Howard has also been a key player for the Lakers’ top-tier defense, and he’s rebounded the ball well, too. He has a 102.1 defensive rating, and he ranks second on the team in rebounds (7.0). Davis has been great defensively as well, leading the team in blocks (2.7). Having Davis and Howard as safety blankets has also allowed LeBron to take more risks, helping the Lakers be one of the best teams in the league in forcing turnovers.

James can also still score at a high level too, but he hasn’t been asked to do it as much this season. He’s posted eight games of 30-plus points this season, with a season-high 39 coming during overtime in a win against the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 1. 

And defensively, he’s had a resurgence as well. He’s been playing passing lanes, positioning himself for steals. James is averaging 1.3 steals, tied for second on the Lakers with Green. He’s been able to play the free safety position on defense while being the quarterback of the offense.

With all these contributions from teammates, James doesn’t have to be concerned about handling the ball, scoring, making plays and playing defense.

And because of that, fans have gotten to see James in perhaps his purest form.

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