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LeBron James Reveals Lakers’ 1 Big Weakness

LeBron James Reveals Lakers’ 1 Big Weakness

The Los Angeles Lakers dropped their season opener against the Golden State Warriors 123-109 on Tuesday night.

Beyond just losing, L.A. looked awful and uncompetitive in the outing from start to finish.

Despite 31 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists from LeBron James, the Lakers could never even keep it close.

James didn’t mince words after the game. He easily identified the Lakers’ fatal flaw this season, much like everyone watching the proceedings did.

“I mean, I don’t know. I think we’re getting great looks and I think there could also be teams giving us great looks,” he said.

“I mean, to be completely honest, we’re not a team that’s constructed of great shooting. And that’s just what the truth of the matter is.

“It’s not like we’re sitting here with a lot of lasers on our team. But that doesn’t deter us from still trying to get great shots. When you get those opportunities, you take them. But we’re not sitting here with a bunch of 40-plus (percent) career 3-point shooting guys.”

In an effort to make his point even clearer, James decided to turn to football and use that in an analogy.

“But, I mean, let’s keep it a buck,” James continued. “It would be like a football team…and you had a bunch of guys that were underneath route-runners and wondering why the quarterback is not throwing 20-plus (yard) passes down the field. … That don’t mean you can’t win. Tom Brady did it.”

The Lakers have zero shooting on the roster. They went 10-of-40 from beyond the arc on Tuesday night, and James himself went 3-of-10.

Unfortunately, because this squad is comprised of zero actual shooting threats, James has to keep lobbing them up even when they clearly weren’t falling for him. Because if he doesn’t, who will?

Last season L.A. ranked 22nd in three-point shooting percentage, 17th in three-pointers attempted and 18th in made threes. They appear to be headed in a similar direction this year.

Over the summer the Lakers were linked to two prominent shooters. Both guys are still out there. And there is at least one squad willing to trade them a deadly scorer for the right price.

Moves are available. Rob Pelinka and Co. just have to be willing to make them.

If they don’t, the Lakers will be relegated to the same bottom-tier they found themselves in last year.

Related: Zion Williamson’s Shirt Goes Viral Before Pelicans Opener (Photos)

Jennifer Withers Hoey

Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
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