The Los Angeles Lakers are taking the court without LeBron James tonight as they face the Miami Heat, who are fighting to make it into the top 6 of the Eastern Conference. The Lakers, meanwhile, are trying desperately to have a top-10 record in the West.
The Lakers are the most storied franchise, have one of the largest fanbases, and employ LeBron James, the man who many think is the greatest player to have ever played the game. Even if they have a poor record, that puts a target on their back.
Players spoke about this last season and Patrick Beverley brought it up again for this year, saying teams play harder against the Lakers and try to beat them.
“Any team that plays us, they're not playing our record, they're playing the name across the jersey so, everyone's looking to beat us, so keeping that intensity the whole game with hard work and staying disciplined.”
– Pat Bev pic.twitter.com/AmpKX47If6
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) January 5, 2023
Last year, it was obvious that teams were going hard at the Lakers. However, Patrick Beverley himself went hard at the Lakers when he faced them with the Timberwolves last year. Teams like the Suns and Grizzlies have faced similar fates after trash-talking most of the league. The best teams can be targeted and still win their games.
Are Teams Coming At The Lakers?
This was undoubtedly true last season but it’s hard to say it’s true this season. Young teams definitely go harder against the Lakers but that also has a lot to do with LeBron James, as most of the young players today grew up idolizing LeBron. Outside of that, no team is taking the court and saying ‘we need to send Kendrick Nunn a message’ by beating them.
Anyway, if the goal is to make the playoffs, the Lakers better be ready to have teams come at them and be able to win their games. There is no point in being upset over this and it seems even Patrick Beverley knows they’ve just gotta put their head down and fight to beat these teams.
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