Back in February, as the Los Angeles Lakers were dwelling at the problematic 13th place of the Western Conference with just 23 games left in the regular season, LeBron James delivered a noteworthy statement.
“Not being part of the postseason for two years straight, that’s not in my DNA.”
And after two months, things eventually came full circle.
Conquering mountains of doubts, outside noises, unavailability issues, inconsistencies, and the urgent adjustments from the midseason trade deadline, James and the Lakers now have taken that relieving sigh of relief on Tuesday night.
After taking the command of outlasting the Minnesota Timberwolves in their Play-In contest via a dramatic comeback rally that reached a nail-biting extension, 108-102, all narratives shifted to James’ awareness heading to this year’s barbaric playoff arena with that clear intent to compete for a title.
As such, James can only be realistic about what it means for him to be back where he belongs.
“I mean that’s the only reason I play,” James said about having another potential title run. “I still try to put in a position to make championship runs and give teammates that never been a part of a championship run, something they haven’t experienced before.
“It has not changed for me since about 2006, 2007. That’s just been my mindset every year on how can I make a championship run. I’ve been successful in four of those. I’ve been able to not only make a championship run but also execute it and actually make it happen but I’ve been on a lot of championship runs for a while, and I want to continue that and hopefully this year’s another one of those instances.”
After facing widespread scrutiny on their playoff absence last season, James boldly assumed the responsibility of leading his Lakers troop back to the postseason scene. From the lowly 13th-seed, the new-look Los Angeles troop impressively blazed its way atop the conference ladder and ender their regular season on a high note, sealing a Play-In ticket as the seventh-placers (43-39).
The recent victory against the T-Wolves meant James a priceless reward. This marks the 15th year he will have an opportunity to compete for a title. At 38 years of age, the future Hall of Famer remains primed and conditioned for more warfare and battles to come, evident from his efficient 30-point output over Minnesota.
But the road towards the mountaintop of the NBA will be arduous. They are slated to start their climb by facing a young, energetic, and West’s second-placers Memphis Grizzlies team in the first-round bracket.
For James, nothing comes down easy to contend for the crown in general. Considering their playoff positioning, the star power of future opponents, and the unpredictability of the playoff scenarios, the hunt for a championship will require ultimate effort and a bit of luck.
“Every year. I mean, it’s tough, there’s too many great teams, too many great players,” James said when asked if this year’s playoff picture is challenging for him. “Every year is tough no matter if you’re the one-seed or the eight-seed.
“Every single year is tough.”
