CLEVELAND — As the Los Angeles Lakers’ season enjoys a bit of a blip after a 131-120 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, LeBron James says he still has something to play for.
“I’m literally spending the time of my life right now,” James said after the Lakers ended their four-game trip by winning two of the last three games. “The game is such a beautiful thing.”
Los Angeles’ place in the standings is not at all pretty, even with the rise, as the Lakers are still in 9th place in the Western Conference – one game ahead of the 10th New Orleans Pelicans and three games ahead 11th. San Antonio Spurs – 10 games left to play.
But James, who had 38 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds to take his record to 17-1 against his former franchise, is stuck in the present moment his team is in.
With four championships and 10 NBA Finals to his credit, why does the 37-year-old star still find a target on a team that’s just looking to make it to the play-ins?
“Because I don’t care what they say about our team,” said James. “At my stage of my career, I don’t get involved in these things. I don’t read about it, I don’t hear too much about it… None of that matters to me, I have the pleasure of playing basketball.”
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Lakers coach Frank Vogel said James’ game – he averaged 37.3 points on 57.1% shooting, 10 rebounds and 8.3 assists – to end the trip as Los Angeles beat two playoff teams in Toronto and Cleveland and nearly lost to Washington after leading by a whopping 16 — keeping his group competitive despite how the season went.
“It’s a league where when things go wrong, it’s not pleasant to be around,” Vogel said. “This team hasn’t let go of the rope and the #1 biggest reason is how he played, how he led and what he represents in terms of confidence in what we can ultimately achieve.”
On Monday, James enjoyed a little of the glory days. He recorded his third career triple-double against the team that drafted him and received a standing ovation from the crowd in Cleveland when the videoboard acknowledged that he passed Karl Malone to become the NBA’s second all-time scorer over the weekend. And he gave a special welcome to his old teammate Kevin Love.
He spat on him.
“Honestly, I didn’t like that it had to be him,” James said with a smile. “He is my boyfriend. This is my brother. And I hope I’m still invited [Love’s] wedding. It’s not even in my regular dunks, so I’ll remove it. I didn’t mean it. K-Love, I love you and I take back what I said. I wish I could get those two points back and we still win the game by nine.”
Los Angeles had that cushion thanks not only to James, but also to Russell Westbrook (20 points, 11 assists) and DJ Augustin (20 points on 7-of-7 shooting).
“Internally, we feel that we are a great team and we can do something special,” said Augustin. “Do a run. Get into the playoffs. And go to the playoffs. And as long as we believe in each other, it doesn’t matter what others think.”
Westbrook said he was motivated to prove the doubters who have been commenting on the Lakers’ problems all season wrong.
“There is nothing better than shutting people up,” he said.
The Lakers may have quieted the noise for the night, but six of the last 10 games are on the road and home games aren’t encouraging either, with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Denver Nuggets coming to town.
“I’m going to play with a lot of passion, energy, give my teammates what they deserve, what they need, and like I said before the end of the season, hopefully I can avoid injury,” James said. . “Of course I’m dealing with a few injuries right now, but I’m working on it and we’re working on it and that’s all that matters. We leave everything on the floor and control what you can control and what you can.” You don’t worry. Just my thinking.