LeBron James Shares His Thoughts On Lakers-Celtics Game: “We Still Trying To Learn…”

LeBron James made it clear that the Los Angeles Lakers have a lot of work to do before they can consider themselves on the level of the Boston Celtics.

4 Min Read

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The NBA tipped off Rivals Week on Monday and has scheduled some of the NBA’s best rivalries to face off this week. One of the marquee fixtures sees the two most successful teams in NBA history – the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics – face off against each other on Thursday.

LeBron James looked ahead to the matchup and shared what the Lakers intend to do against the reigning NBA Champions. He did admit that the Lakers are still learning to play with each other while the Celtics know exactly what they want to do.

“Be physical defensively, share the ball offensively. Communicate. I don’t think it’s even about Boston, Boston knows who they are. We are still learning and trying to get better at what we want to do. We’ll have a game plan in place for such a great team, but they’re in a different place than we are.”

The Lakers are 23-18 this season while the Celtics are 30-13, shaping up to remain a top-five team in the NBA heading into the Playoffs. The Lakers are still battling to ensure they have a spot in the Playoffs, currently occupying the No. 6 seed in the West.

His statement is entirely true, as the Lakers are definitely a group still looking for the perfect pieces and how they come together while the Celtics are running it back with the same roster that breezed to an NBA Championship win last season.

Imbibing a new system introduced by head coach JJ Redick was bound to take some time, so this matchup against the Celtics will serve as a major test for the franchise. If they lose or get blown out like the Golden State Warriors did against Boston, changes will be necessary to salvage any hopes of being competitive this season.


Lakers Have To Play ‘Perfect Basketball’ Against Contenders

LeBron’s comments about the Celtics don’t come as a surprise. The 40-year-old forward recently opened up on his frustrations on the Lakers not having any room for error against good teams because they aren’t constructed as well as the other contenders in the NBA.

“No, that’s not how our team is constructed. We don’t have room for error — for much error… We don’t have a choice. I mean that’s the way our team is constructed. We have to play close to perfect basketball. We know the game is never perfect, it’s never going to be a 48-minute perfect basketball game.”

Many people took this as a shot at Rob Pelinka and the front office. They acquired Dorian Finney-Smith in late December but it’s clear the team needs more quality additions, primarily at guard and center. Without that, the Lakers are going to continue fruitlessly chasing faultless games against contenders.

You might get a win or two in those situations, but it isn’t a sustainable way of contending in the NBA. It isn’t even a sustainable way to win a Playoff series, but it might be a lesson Pelinka and the front office need to learn the hard way with another disappointing season at the end of it all.

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *