“We’ve never seen LeBron James like this”: Stephen A. Smith claims the Lakers barely survived against Steph Curry and the Warriors due to a lack of rhythm

Stephen A. Smith points out that we’ve never seen an injury riddled LeBron James season before and that the Lakers lack rhythm. 

 The Los Angeles Lakers have an interesting season to say the least. After potentially possessing an MVP and DPOY candidate in LeBron James and Anthony Davis respectively, the Lakers were hit with a bevy of injuries to their stars, along with a couple guys like Dennis Schroder being out for a while due to health and safety protocols. 

LeBron James was having an incredible season this year as not only was he quite nearly averaging the same points, assists, and rebounds as his career averages, but was doing so while being menacing on the defensive end of the floor as well. His right ankle however, seems to have not been able to keep up with what James wanted to accomplish as it’s become the reason as to why the Lakers are doubted as favorites out of the West going into the Playoffs.

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Lauded as being perhaps the most durable superstar to have ever laced up to take to NBA hardwood, the ‘King’ has never sustained a season ending injury in his 18 year professional career. 

Stephen A. Smith claims LeBron James has never entered the Playoffs in a condition as bad as this. 

Stephen A. Smith seems to be quite concerned with the reigning Finals MVP’s ankle injury, considering the number of times he’s re-aggravated it in the regular season. 

“When it pertains to injury, we have never seen LeBron James come into a postseason looking this way. Yeah, he turned it on in the second half, but in the first half, he was awful, and Anthony Davis was awful too. I think their health and the absence of rhythm because they’ve been comprised by health and had to miss so many games, has been a real challenge for them.”

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LeBron James has never entered the Playoffs in a condition comparable to the one he’s in currently. Sure, he’s had a couple issues that sidelined him during the Playoffs such as when he started to experience incredibly painful cramps in the 2011 Finals, but has always looked dominant when entering a first-round matchup.