Two of the strongest NBA teams during the pandemic-interrupted season have been the Los Angeles Lakers and the Clippers, but it would seem that the Clippers have the edge because of a more-complete roster than the Lakers. But one thing going for the Lakers is the presence of LeBron James.
James, according to Draymond Green, can make things happen for whatever team that he plays for. LeBron did that with the Miami Heat, and the same happened when he returned to Cleveland, so his mere presence is a substantial boost for a Lakers team hell-bent on winning the NBA title.
"I think going into this bubble, the Lakers got to be the favorite because they got LeBron [James] and he can kind of adjust anything," Clutch Points reported the Golden State Warriors star as saying, picking up on his interview with ESPN.
Green explained that the Lakers star's legendary work ethic would spell the big difference, and he noted that James is widely acknowledged as one of the most disciplined athletes around. The kind of character that he brings to the game will be key to how things will play out when the season restarts.
Green said that on the James advantage alone, he has to pick the Lakers as favorite to win the Larry O-Brien this year.
However, the defensive specialist took note of how capable the Clippers are with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George providing the scoring muscle and with sufficient support on the defensive end.
The Clippers have a clear shot at winning the championship, but the Lakers stand on the way, and blame is on King James, Green said.
The Warriors star spoke from experience as he has fought numerous battles with the Lakers superstar. On four occasions, Green and James faced off in the NBA Finals, and the epic clashes appeared to convince him that James is nearly the ultimate basketball gladiator.
CBS Sports said James capitalizing on the discipline that he perfected through the years will indeed become a factor in the Orlando bubble games. The 22 teams will be subjected to unfamiliar situations and conditions, and it takes a strong will to quickly adapt to the circumstances and still shoot for the win.
Clearly, James has the qualities to matter to his team and to fire them up on claiming what they came to Orlando for.
"The mental discipline to sink even further into yourself, to block out the external conditions and play as if nothing has changed will separate a lot of teams and players in this particular set of conditions," CBS said on its report.
Recall that Cleveland's NBA title win in 2016 happened during the juggernaut season of the Warriors. James' squad was trailing the Dubs at 1-3 in the Finals, but the Cavs emerged victorious in the last three games to claim the championship. It's hard to deny then that the Cavs overcame mostly because of James.
