The Los Angeles Lakers secured a 123-120 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, propelled by stellar performances from LeBron James and Anthony Davis. James contributed 37 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, while Davis posted an impressive 36 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists. James notably sealed the win with six crucial points in the game’s closing moments, preventing a potentially embarrassing defeat for the Lakers as the regular season nears its end.
Despite the triumph, concerns arose among Lakers fans due to the team’s reliance on James and Davis against the struggling Grizzlies, who were without many key players. NBA enthusiasts took to social media to mock the Lakers, highlighting their dependency on their star duo to overcome what should have been a straightforward opponent.
Criticism mounted on platforms like Twitter, with users deriding the Lakers’ struggle against a depleted Grizzlies lineup. Many questioned the team’s playoff prospects, expressing doubt over their ability to perform consistently at a high level when facing stronger opponents.
Lebron and AD masterclasses just to beat the grizzlies pic.twitter.com/lOdldXEano
— ひ (@SlimChamberlin) April 13, 2024
Amid the backlash, analysts and commentators weighed in on the Lakers’ performance, describing it as concerning despite the victory. Some labeled it as one of the team’s worst wins, emphasizing the need for improvement, particularly from players beyond James and Davis. The Lakers’ recent performances, including struggles from certain players like D’Angelo Russell, fueled further apprehension among fans and observers.
Dame just dropped 71 points and they let him team up with Giannis but they refused to let CP3 pair up with Kobe? 😭 pic.twitter.com/3CaBlwXNLc
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) September 27, 2023
Despite the contentious nature of the win, the Lakers’ record improved to 46-35, securing eighth place in the competitive Western Conference. While they are bound for the play-in tournament, there remains a possibility of advancing to the No. 7 vs. No. 8-seed game, potentially reducing their involvement in the play-in process to just one game.
The upcoming matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans presents another opportunity for the Lakers to solidify their postseason positioning and address the concerns raised by their performance against the Grizzlies.
