LeBron James knows within himself that he played poorly in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 116-99 Game 5 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
James took full accountability of his unpleasant performance as the Grizzlies went successful by limiting the four-time MVP with just 15 points on 5-of-17 shooting (1-of-9 in threes) and five turnovers.
“Tonight, I was sh–. And I’ll be better in Game 6,” said by James in postgame, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
James shot 29.4 percent from the field, but he was not the only one who caught cold hands. Austin Reaves had 17, but tallied 30.8 percent efficiency. Meanwhile D’Angelo Russell got 11 markers in a 36.4 percent mark.
Nevertheless, it was a massive drop of performance for the future hall of famer, who averaged 24 points and 49.4 percent in the first four games of the series against Memphis.
Though James struggled, Anthony Davis found a needed revival of his game against the Grizzlies in Game 5, as he tallied 31 points and 19 boards in 14-of-23 shooting.
“LeBron will play better,” Davis said. “After Game 2 when I played like crap, I had my head down and he was telling me to keep my head up. And I kind of just relayed that same message to him tonight. ‘You have the most points scored ever, you’re the best basketball player to ever touch the court.’
“So, it’s fine. He’ll be fine. He’ll adjust. He’ll get better.”
Still up 3-2 in the first-round bout, James got the most important opportunity to hammer a bounce back display on Friday’s Game 6, as the Lakers will look to see his activeness once again as they try to put the finishing touches against the Grizzlies.
