LeBron James gearing up LA Lakers ‘to make the playoffs’

LeBron James 2023 #NBAAllStar Press Conference

LeBron James said Sunday before taking the court for his record-tying 19th All-Star Game that he had been gearing up the Los Angeles Lakers so that the team can make the playoffs.

“It’s 23 of the most important games of my career for a regular season,” James said. “It’s the type of mindset that I have, and I hope the guys will have, coming back off the break.”

James said this sense of urgency was tied to the previous season’s disappointing result when Los Angeles was eliminated from the postseason.

NBA

2023-02-08 05:01

38,388 POINTS LeBron James hits the fadeaway jumper to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer! #ScoringKing https://t.co/P5LyTZAZn3

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The 38-year-old insisted that he didn’t want to miss another playoff, saying, “I want to make a push to make the playoffs.”

He also said it’s fine that they’re up here discussing “the scoring record” and everything, but he’s more invested in getting the team to the playoffs so they can try to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

The four-time NBA champion said, “That’s just who I am. That’s what I’m cut from.”

In response to skepticism that the Lakers won’t make the playoffs, James commented that he had “always been confident” in his teams’ capabilities to defeat any opponent.

Masked 🎭

2023-02-19 22:32

“I wasn’t chasing it. I was just hoopin” – LeBron on breaking the all-time scoring record 🐐🔥 https://t.co/oDMtMYNHpC

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He believes that with the squad now, they can finish the regular season on a high note, saying they could defeat “anyone in the Western Conference,” if not the entire league.

James is having a fantastic season individually, averaging 30 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game on a 50.8 shooting percentage.

However, the Lakers have been unpredictable, sitting 13th in the Western Conference with a 27-32 record — two games out of the final play-in slot and 3 1/2 games out of the sixth seed, which would give them a first-round appearance.

bre ✨

2023-02-08 05:44

Zhuri cheering on her dad as he broke the scoring record is so precious 🥺 https://t.co/EhKy0pnYYU

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James has missed 14 games this season, including a recent three-game absence due to a left foot and ankle injury, but he plans to be on the floor as much as possible during the postseason run.

During the Lakers’ 120-102 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans before the break, James noted that the four-day rest had helped his left foot to heal.

He promised he wouldn’t “go too crazy” in the All-Star Game so he could play at full strength for Thursday’s matchup with the Golden State Warriors, who are 2 1/5 games ahead.

Sportsbook Review

2023-02-14 16:41

It was 7 years ago today that Kobe Bryant and LeBron James faced off against each other in an NBA All-Star Game for the last time. 👀 https://t.co/xEWxzH0fEh

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