SPORTS ON THE BACK: LeBron James returns to the Lakers after missing 21 games.
James’ return from longest absence will lift Lakers’ title defense
Ignore the standings. Forget the losses. Overlook the rust.
Even disregard the freakish 110-106 stumble to the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.
After spending most of the winter hidden in a hovel of injuries and irrelevancy, the Lakers have emerged from hibernation to find themselves exactly where they need to be. The most rested team in the NBA. The most dangerous team in the NBA. The favorites to again become champions of the NBA. The Lakers are back because LeBron James is back. James returned Friday after the longest absence of his career, filling Staples Center with hope.
Or, in the words of flexing public address announcer Lawrence Tanter, once again speaking for a city, “LeBrawwwwn James!”
After missing 41 days and 21 games with a high right ankle sprain, James reemerged in a full sprint.
His first stat was a rocket pass down low to new teammate Andre Drummond, and later he found Drummond for an ally-oop dunk. Yeah, they can play together.
His first rim attack was a spinning, behind-the-back dribble, the King juking two Kings. Yeah, he still can move.
In the final seconds of the first quarter, he drove down the middle past Maurice Harkless and laid it in between two other defenders while being hacked. As he walked back to the foul line he nodded and smiled as if to say, you missed me, didn’t you? Yeah, LeBron is still LeBron. He had two bad turnovers in the closing minutes and missed a three-pointer in the final seconds that could have won it, but he also made a three-pointer late and finished with 16 points on 50% shooting.
“I came out unscathed and
pretty good … a good start,” James said.
The return of James — along with the earlier return of Anthony Davis — once again gives them the best 1-2 jab on the planet, only now with added punch.
Think about it. They’re returning from vacation just as the rest of the league is begging for a break.
Be honest. Now that their two stars are back, does anybody else think those injuries could have been the best thing to happen to the Lakers?
The money-hungry NBA started the season at least a month too early, giving the Lakers just 71 days of offseason rest, the fewest in league history.
By being sidelined, James and Davis got that month back, and more.
The compressed schedule has fatigued players such that every week, it seems, another star limps to the bench. The Lakers’ two stars, however, are in early season shape. While Davis is increasing his playing time every game, James stepped on the court Friday without any minutes restriction.
Before the game, in a prescient quote, Coach Frank Vogel said he was worried that the 10 remaining games aren’t enough for the team to mesh.
“Yeah, my comfort level, it’s not enough,” he said. “Not in any way, shape or form.”
After the game, he repeated his warning, saying, “Very, very disappointing loss … expect there to be an adjustment period, some bumps in the road. It’s going to be bumpy over these final nine games; it was bumpy going into the playoffs last year too.
“We have to get these guys to find their rhythm and timing and chemistry together with one another, win as many games as we can along the way.”
They should be ready by playoff time. Remember, late last summer they meshed in the bubble after just eight regular-season games.
Vogel even predicted some difficulty making everything click. On Friday, as the Lakers committed 21 turnovers, he was right.
“So, it’s going to be another adjustment period,” he said. “We’re still in an adjustment period with Anthony. This will be an adjustment period for LeBron and for the guys around Bron and we just got to compete and battle through it.”
Yet if Friday is any indication, James already is competing and battling and making those adjustments.
He made a one-handed steal while backpedaling in a passing lane. He threw a bounce pass around his body to Markieff Morris for a dunk. He scored on a sweeping hook around Marvin Bagley Jr. He spun around two defenders for a layup.
More than anything, James deftly directed an offense that just flows differently when he’s in charge. His first pass was often the germination of several passes that ended in an open shot.
His first move was often the initial step in a delicate dance that ended in an uncontested layup.
Throughout a night soaked in relief, even in defeat, the home team was reminded of what it had been missing.
LeBron James is back, and the Lakers’ title defense begins now.