“LeBron James Took a Day Off”: Gilbert Arenas Assures Lakers Star Did ‘Nothing’ in Game 5 But Will Put Up 40 in Game 6

The Los Angeles Lakers lost Game 5 by 17 points on Wednesday, which was the team’s biggest loss since January. And LeBron James, who had a 21/20/7 game in the series-defining Game 4 against the Grizzlies, just had 15 points and 10 rebounds on the day.

The 4x NBA champ could have sealed a second-round birth for his team for the first time since their championship run in 2020.

However, the Purple and Gold team still has 2 more games to do the same. But according to Gilbert Arenas, they would need just Game 6 to get it done. The former 3x All-Star also guarantees that The King has a 40-point game coming up.

Gilbert Arenas says LeBron James took a day off in Game 5 and will have a 40-point night in the 6th

Although James and Anthony Davis, both have been putting up some remarkable two-way performances throughout this series, there is still an offensive masterpiece due, which according to Arenas, James will be delivering Friday night.

Gilbert threw a guarantee in excitement when Rashad McCants said he would stick to his earlier take — Grizzlies in 7. Meanwhile, Brandon Jennings kept on saying, “No way it’s going to Game 7.”

“I guarantee you, he [LeBron James] didn’t do nothing last night, he took a day off,” Gilbert said at Gil’s Arena. “40 next game!”

Can the Grizzlies still make a comeback?

They certainly can. If either LeBron or AD comes up short in Game 6, there is not much doubt the Grizzlies, the way they played on Wednesday, can win it in Los Angeles as well.

And if they are able to level the series and take it back to Memphis for Game 7, they might blow the Lakers up to reach the second round. If not the championship, playing the Warriors would be motivation enough for them, given the Dubs come through to the second round as well.

So, as much as Game 6 is a do-or-die for Ja Morant and Co, it is just about the same for the LA team.

About the author

Akash Murty

An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

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