![]() But he’s been far more effective defensively by blocking more shots and deterring countless others. ![]() He’s not scoring as much, has had the ball less and is not scoring as efficiently. ![]() Here is how James compares to his 2020 self through two rounds. Considering he’s 38, in his 20th season and coming off a major foot injury, it’s understandable that there would be a drop-off. He’s also struggled from beyond the arc, which has affected his overall efficiency numbers. James‘ usage and assist numbers have declined, as the ball has been spread out to the likes of D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Dennis Schröder. This season, James has played at power forward (79 percent) and center (21 percent), shifting roles and playing off the ball more. He was the team’s primary ballhandler and point guard. On the title team, James played 79 percent of his minutes at guard and 21 percent of his minutes at small forward. In the 2019-20 season, James played almost exclusively the point-guard position - even if he was matching up with wings and bigs defensively - and led the league in assists with a career-best 10.2 per game. The transformations of James and Davis have been remarkable. But it’s precisely the stars’ ability to alter their games and adapt to what their team needs that has allowed the Lakers to contend with two vastly different rosters and team identities. That’s especially remarkable considering James and Davis are both older, more banged up and somewhat diminished versions of their previous selves. It’s rare for a team of this caliber to reconstruct itself, not only in terms of personnel but also with their head coach and playing style while achieving similar success. The smash-mouth 2020 bubble team has given way to a 2023 roster with a new head coach, multiple ballhandlers and a more egalitarian offensive approach that lends itself to random contributions nightly. Nevertheless, the Lakers’ front office has remade the roster multiple times since the championship season with each iteration having a slightly different identity. They are 26-10 in the playoffs when both players are available for a full game. The one constant throughout this four-year run: the Lakers win when James and Davis are both healthy. But the Lakers’ surge also is a testament to the dominance, and more importantly, the malleability of their superstar duo. 25, is the headline-grabber of this run, and rightfully so. Los Angeles’ remarkable in-season turnaround, from a 2-10 start and being the No. So while the other three Florida bubble return finalists return with at least a baseline level of familiarity, the team that won the title that season returned to prominence by unmaking and then remaking themselves.įor the most part, the Lakers have a brand-new group. And … that’s it, outside of a couple of assistant coaches and performance staffers. Going back to last year’s conference finals, the Celtics are returning seven of their top eight players, and the Heat are returning seven of their top 10 (though two of those players, Herro and Victor Oladipo, are injured). The Heat are bringing back Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro (injured), Duncan Robinson, Udonis Haslem (barely plays) and head coach Erik Spoelstra. The Celtics still have Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Grant Williams and Robert Williams III, with then-coach Brad Stevens still around as general manager. The Nuggets are returning Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. Nonetheless, the Lakers’ continuity pales in comparison to the other members of the NBA bubble 2.0 Final Four of Denver, Boston and Miami. He paused and then raised his hand, emphasizing his statement: “We’re a different team.”Įvery team is different, to some extent, from season to season, of course.
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