Stephen A Smith Mentions LeBron James, Delivers Key to Winning Game 3 vs Nuggets: “Stay off the Three!”

The Western Conference Finals move to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4. LeBron James and the Lakers, after going down 0-2, would be looking to continue their home-court dominance. So far in these playoffs, the Purple and Gold are 6-0 at the Crypto.com arena. Heading into Game 3, ESPN’s Stephen A Smith had some important words of advice for the team, especially LBJ. He shared the key to winning this game and getting back in the series.

So far in the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers are shooting 35.2% from the deep. Comparatively, the Nuggets are shooting 41.4% from the distance. Despite having the same shooting percentage from the field, the threes are making a huge difference. It’s not the Nuggets making 3s, rather, the Lakers chucking them, which hurts them in the end. Here’s what Stephen A Smith said,

Stephen A Smith has an important message for LeBron James

The Los Angeles Lakers, after finishing as the 7th seed, have made a big impact on these playoffs so far. They took out the #2 seed Memphis Grizzlies, and the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors. In both the series, the Lakers took Game 1 on the road.

However, in these WCFs, the Lakers haven’t gotten close to winning a single game. The Lakers stayed within striking distance, but careless chucking up of 3s in the 4th quarter, especially by Lebron James, led to losses. Before tip-off, Stephen A Smith had an important message for the King.

“Stay off the threeeeeeeee… in the 4th quarter.”

It’s some really good advice for Bron, who went 0-10 from the deep against the Nuggets in the first two games. After starting off the game 0-2 from the deep, he’s now missed 19 consecutive 3-pointers in these playoffs. Maybe the King needs to drive more to the basket instead of chucking Steph Curry range 3s in the 4th to secure his team the win. That’s what Skip Bayless keeps saying over and over again.

LeBron is 1-20 from 3s in the 4th quarter of these playoffs

During Game 3 of the Lakers-Nuggets, ESPN shared a graphic showing LeBron’s quarter-wise shooting these playoffs. While he’s shooting an impressive 53%  from the deep during the other quarters, what was astonishing was his 4th quarter numbers.

So far these playoffs, Bron has shot 1-20 from the deep in the 4th quarter. This is a big reason why the Lakers aren’t able to close the game, and exactly what Stephen A Smith pointed out.

Hopefully, LBJ pays heed to the advice, and tonight’s result goes in his favor.