The Los Angeles Lakers clinched their berth in the In-Season Tournament knockout rounds with a 99-131 win over the Utah Jazz. Fans are excited after this dominant win saw both LeBron James and Anthony Davis rest in the fourth quarter.
#LakeShow +32 pic.twitter.com/mDaIvUzOUh
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 22, 2023
Fans were really happy to see LeBron and AD be in a position to watch the fourth quarter while having fun on the bench.
Lebron & AD laughing on the bench up 30… I’ve missed this 😭 pic.twitter.com/q2G236ofjv
— The Pettiest Laker Fan 🤫 (@ThePettiestLA) November 22, 2023
The Lakers’ fast start to the game and early dominance have made it clear to fans that they need to play more games with this urgency.
LeBron & AD set the tone to start this game & now they will be able to sit the entire 4th quarter…
This is how Lakers need to play basketball 💜💛
— Raquel 🫶🏾 (@SOULbeautifulme) November 22, 2023
Fans joked about the In-Season Tournament boosting LeBron’s legacy.
LeBron with nba cup on the resume would be untouchable
— year 23 (@johnrivers131) November 22, 2023
Anthony Davis received a lot of love from Lakers fans for his dominant display to clinch this win early.
anthony davis been incredible this game bro
he just looks healthy rn
14 rebounds in 3 quarters vs a pretty solid rebounding team
just dominating
— Coach Rome (@Rome_Beast) November 22, 2023
Performances like these by AD also bring out the fans that are frustrated by his inability to play like this every game.
That’s why I don’t be tryna hear that shit when y’all act like we shouldn’t expect AD to get buckets AND dominate defensively. To whom much is given, much is expected. And he’s one of the greatest basketball players ever in his prime. I expect greatness on both ends.
— KenHeLive (@KenHeLive) November 22, 2023
Fans are calling this version of the Lakers the greatest in-season tournament team ever as a joke.
The Lakers are the best In-Season Tournament team ever. Don't @ me
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) November 22, 2023
On a serious note, many fans were pleasantly surprised to see the Lakers take the tournament as seriously as they have done.
I am just as in shock as anyone that the Lakers have taken the in-season tourney so seriously and dominated. But I’ll take it.
— Alex CaruShow (@DaBoyOVO24) November 22, 2023
Anthony Davis was the dominant man through three quarters, notching 26 points and 16 rebounds. LeBron James didn’t have to assert himself over the game but got an efficient 17 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. D’Angelo Russell had a great game with 20 points on the night as well.
The extended fourth-quarter play for most of the bench has allowed multiple stars such as Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, and Christian Wood to score double-digit points.
The Jazz couldn’t get anything going, with their highest-scoring starter being John Collins with 15 points. Lauri Markkanen had a disappointing performance with a 10-point night, though late production from Omer Yurteseven looked really strong for the 4-10 franchise.
The In-Season Tournament Is A Serious Goal For The Lakers
Many fans will continue to mock the adoption of the In-Season Tournament, but the team’s reaction to the same has been encouraging. Every top star that has spoken about it has spoken about it positively, noting the increase in competitive energy in these games. Not every player in the NBA is making hundreds of millions, so the $500K prize for each player makes a difference to players on minimum or rookie contracts.
The Lakers have approached the tournament with a lot of seriousness as well. Their group wasn’t as challenging as the group that has the Mavericks, Clippers, Nuggets, and Pelicans, but they did beat the Suns to make their knockout berth possible. LeBron spoke about the Lakers’ approach to the tournament already, making it clear that this is something they want to win.
“I think it’s an incentive, for sure, early in the season when you’re playing in the In-Season Tournament. We understand what’s at stake. That’s not saying we’re putting all our eggs in one basket in the In-Season Tournament, but we know when the games come on Tuesday and Friday, we know what it’s about. We know what’s at stake so it’s been good to us so far.”
Hopefully, they can go all the way and LeBron can continue his rise on the MVP charts for this tournament. A win is a win, and it’s clear the Lakers want to win it all.
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