The playoffs are in full swing, and it looks like the final days of the NBA regular season are mostly devoted to criticism of those who won’t be there. The Los Angeles star project led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis was in the spotlight, with the Lakers left with a slim chance of advancing to the playoffs and closer than ever to a very early end to the season.
The Lakers, who are ranked 11th in the West and two games away from tenth-ranked San Antonio, also had extenuating circumstances. Anthony Davis’ recurring injuries prevented the team from building chemistry and significantly damaged the quality of the staff. But even these explanations are seen as excuses, and the AD it boils down to.
“What the hell do you want from me? When I’m not playing, it’s problematic. When I do play, it’s a problem, too,” Davis said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “Last year when I was not playing due to injuries, they said I gave up the team. When I went up to play with pain and got injured again, they looked for culprits and asked who allowed me to play. At the end of the day, I have to do what is best for me and my body. That’s the starting point. “I’m bothered by what they say or think about me, because everyone who criticizes me has never stepped on parquet and never played professional basketball. Anyone who has played basketball, surely understands that these are not injuries that come back easily.”
But the finger of blame continues to be directed at the actors, and especially at LeBron James. After Karim Abdul Jabbar criticized James (and apologized later), even Magic Johnson, who is known to be very careful, sent arrows.
“The main blame he has to take on has to do with decisions before the start of the season. He’s played a big part in getting Damar Druzen to the Bulls and not the Lakers,” Magic said. “Tell them, they explained to me that LeBron is already in intensive talks with Russell Westbrook. Westbrook came to the Lakers instead of Drusen mainly because of LeBron.”
LeBron, it seems, is trying to remove some of the responsibility for the Lakers’ situation – or at least that’s what Ryan Rossillo of The Ringer claims. According to Rosillo, James’ associates have been trying in recent days to promote a narrative according to which LeBron did not side with a trade for Westbrook, who was allegedly “laid down” for the team without his knowledge.
“Behind the scenes, LeBron’s people are trying to rewrite history. They know this season is a total failure of the Lakers, and they’re trying to advance the agenda that LeBron did not really want Russ. But it’s clearly a lie. He was a secret from the beginning to the end. One truth, he too is trying to evade responsibility. “