LeBron’s fourth-quarter run reveals Kings’ early-season weakness originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Leave it to LeBron James to expose the Kings’ biggest weakness in two games of the 2024-2025 NBA season.
The 39-year-old superstar scored 16 points during the Lakers’ 21-0 fourth-quarter run, leading Los Angeles to a thrilling 131-127 victory over Sacramento on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena.
In doing so, James not only proved his undeniable worth in his 22nd NBA season, but also made it clear that the Kings’ defensive weakness is early this season.
The Kings’ defensive scheme, which lacked physicality or tenacity last season, had no answers for James and Co. late in the stretch, especially in transition after giving up turnovers.
“We were just trying to get arrests, you know,” Kings center Domantas Sabonis told reporters on Saturday. “LeBron was kind of like LeBron. He left.
“He did his thing and we were careless with the ball at the other end, instead of scoring or taking good shots. We had a few turnovers there that helped them make that run.
Los Angeles won the rebounding game 45-32 and outscored Sacramento offensively by eight. Sabonis, who finished the night with his first triple-double of the season, led the Kings with 12 rebounds, while guard De’Aaron Fox was second with five.
James finished with 32 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, handing the Kings their first loss to the Lakers since January 7, 2023, leaving Fox impressed with the future Hall of Famers’ dominant longevity, which he said will not be seen. again.
“I mean, guys his age play at the rec,” Fox said. “Obviously what he has done throughout his career in this league is amazing. And what he’s doing now will probably never be repeated in year 22.”
This offseason, questions were raised about coach Mike Brown’s defensive structure, which was ranked No. 2 at the end of last season.
Late in the preseason, Brown expressed concern about Sacramento’s three-point defense, which was a major deficit in the Kings’ season-opening loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
On the other hand, general manager Monte McNair, who gambled offensively by signing DeMar Derozan, expressed no concerns weeks earlier about his decision not to upgrade the defense this offseason, pointing to the Kings’ defensive moves last season as a replicable formula.
Both Brown and McNair were able to keep much of the roster behind Sacramento’s feared defense late last season. Perhaps it is only a matter of time before the tide turns.
But so far, that’s not the case for the winless Kings, who, as James noted, have a glaring defensive problem that requires immediate attention.
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