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LeBron James was outstanding in helping Anthony Davis carry the LA Lakers to a huge win over the Milwaukee Bucks on the road. James finished with 28 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.
After the game, Skip Bayless still found something to nitpick about the four-time MVP’s performance:
“LeBron obviously wanted no part of driving and having to shoot free throws on 3rd to last possession, then almost laughably hot-potatoed by ball to ... Westbrook? ... so he (LBJ) didn't have to shoot the free throws. Westbrook predictably missed both. But AD finally made one.”
The veteran Fox Sports analyst’s dig at James felt like a desperate attempt to smear that specific sequence against the 18x All-Star. Milwaukee was pressing after Grayson Allen missed a potential game-tying three-point shot with 18 seconds left when James grabbed the rebound.
The right play for the Lakers was to melt the clock as much as possible as they had a 132-129 lead. Moving the ball around as the Bucks’ defense scrambled to commit a foul was a no-brainer.
“King James,” after hauling down the rebound, passed it to Anthony Davis, who returned the ball to James. A streaking Russell Westbrook was on the opposite side of the floor and received the ball from another of James’ quick and decisive passing.
From the time LeBron James grabbed the rebound to Khris Middleton’s foul on Westbrook, the Lakers wasted more than five seconds off the clock. The Lakers played that sequence perfectly and still Skip Bayless had to reach and criticize James for his decision to pass to Westbrook.
Russell Westbrook did miss two of the free throws, which only added pressure and excitement to the game. But had “Russ” made both of them, the game would have been effectively over.
After Westbrook’s miss, the Milwaukee Bucks raced down the court for another potential game-tying three-pointer. Jrue Holiday shot the ball too strong as Austin Reaves was draped all over him. Anthony Davis was fouled later and hit one of two free throws for the final score.
Skip Bayless conceded that LeBron James is still the best passer in the NBA
Before his unnecessary criticism of LeBron James, Skip Bayless extolled one of the NBA’s legendary passers:
“LeBron James is STILL the best passer in basketball.”
Earlier in the fourth quarter, James passed Magic Johnson for sixth place in the NBA’s all-time assists leaderboard. Bayless knew very well that the four-time MVP was on the verge of passing Johnson, so why not concede the obvious?
To the veteran sports analyst’s credit, he did give his flowers to the LA Lakers for their biggest and most impressive win of the season:
“Despite the shaky finish, great overall performance by the Lakers, who actually resembled contenders. AD stood up to Giannis with 44 pts and 10 rbs (all in the 2nd half). Both Bron and Russ had 11 assists and ZERO TURNOVERS. Lakers won the boards. Lakers looked like ... Lakers!”
The LA Lakers just finished the first game of a brutal seven-game road trip in the East. Whether LeBron James plays well or not during this stretch, one can always count on Skip Bayless to take a dig at the Lakers’ star player.
