Stephen A. Smith, just like many other pundits this season, has been forced to talk a lot about the Los Angeles Lakers. Overall, the Lakers have not been a particularly good team. However, they possess the likes of LeBron James, so they are a hot topic of conversation. Moreover, they made some big moves at the trade deadline, and there is an expectation that they will be a lot better toward the playoffs. That said, if the Lakers do miss the playoffs, then they will be clowned for eternity. It also doesn't help that this would be their second year in a row missing the postseason.
Now that the All-Star Game has passed us by, there are only a few more days left in the All-Star break. Ultimately, this has given Anthony Davis, LeBron, and his teammates plenty of time to rest. For Stephen A., however, their return will be filled with a lot of expectations. As Smith explains, the pressure is on right now for the Lakers. In fact, Smith believes this could damage LeBron's legacy if they cannot find a way to get into the show.
Stephen A. Gets Honest
"You're LeBron James, and you're Anthony Davis, and you're healthy enough to be on the court. You don't make the playoffs? That's quite embarrassing," Smith said. It is hard to disagree with this assessment. However, it needs to be stated that LeBron and AD cannot do it all. Furthermore, this roster was not well constructed at the start of the year. This put the team in a hole for a very long time. Ultimately, LeBron has been doing everything he can to make this work. It will now be up to everyone else to play their role and give the Lakers some sort of success.
With 23 games left, the Lakers will need to win at least 15 of those games to make it into the playoffs. If they cannot get that done, then LeBron will be out of the postseason, yet again. It will be interesting to see how he plays knowing his legacy could very well take a hit. Stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.
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