LeBron James: I Knew This Team Could Play Good Basketball
LeBron James, whose Los Angeles Lakers are just two wins away from the West finals, spoke to the press on Saturday and said he was confident his team could go far after roster changes in February.
“I knew we could play good basketball. I knew that. I knew that my teammates play for each other, that they play hard, that they share the ball,” he said.
The Lakers dominated the Golden State Warriors 127-97 on Saturday to take a 2-1 lead in the Western semifinals with great authority and a serious defence. LeBron, who did not score in the first quarter, was key with 21 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, along with Anthony Davis (25 points and 13 rebounds) and D’Angelo Russell (21).
LeBron pointed out that not attempting any shots in the first quarter was due to the good start of Russell and Davis in that quarter, between them scoring 21 of his team’s 23 points. He did not want to “force” the game. LeBron also noted that the Lakers played “very well” and that they grew from defence and “putting pressure” on Golden State.
“To reach our potential, we have to defend at a high level,” he said, recalling one of the keys he has stressed time and again in these playoffs. Finally, LeBron was happy for his son Bronny, who announced on Saturday that he will play in the NCAA for the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans.
