Year 20 LeBron And The Lakers Proved The Corgi WRONG In A Game 6 Closeout Rout That Probably Ended The Warriors' Dynasty

Matt Fitzgerald5/13/2023 5:19 AM

I love dogs, but to give this clairvoyant corgi any credulity whatsoever when we're talking about LeBron James at home in a closeout game is and always was laughable.

Ooh, but that corgi was 5-0, you say? Undefeated!?

NOT ANYMORE. LOLLLLLLLLLLLLL.

The seventh-seeded Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James in his 20th season and a roster that was overhauled at the trade deadline, are one of the final two teams left standing in the West. They had to go teach the young, dumb Memphis Grizzlies some hard lessons in the last round. Then, all LeBron and Co. did was knock off the reigning NBA champs in Friday's electrifying Game 6.

Good lord. I know everyone hates on LeBron for lying about shit that literally does not fucking matter even a little bit. Is it possible to enjoy something he does? This man straight-up took control and imposed his will — that's right! he's, um, mentally tough! — and even at his advanced basketball age, The King was the best player on the floor.

Gonna hand it off to Nick Wright here for a second. Some useful stats to put LeBron's latest postseason excellence into perspective:

LeBron played 43 minutes. Forty-three. For fuck's sake. You saw his stat line near the top of this blog. IS HE BAAAAAAAD AT BASKETBALL!?

Giphy Images.

I have so many receipts and stupid-ass musings from the comments sections regarding the prematurely forecasted demise of LeBron and the Lakers. Posting all of them now would indubitably trigger all kinds of ignorant vitriol. The goalposts will move again on LeBron like they always do. I'll leave those be. If you don't like the guy, I can't change your mind. Enjoy hating on all-time great basketball before your very eyes. Understandable if you're a Celtics fan. Otherwise, I simply don't get you. Miss me with it.

If only there was a common denominator by which to measure LA's stunning ascent from a nightmarish start to the season to where they are now…

Not to belittle the way Anthony Davis has stepped up — and several other Lakers supporting players for that matter. AD has found his inner killer and put it on full display against Golden State with 17 points, 20 boards and the key pillar behind a lockdown defensive effort. Austin Reaves hit a halfcourt, halftime buzzer beater to put the Lakers up 10 at the break. Golden State never really threatened to stage a comeback after that.

The Splash Bros. really dried up tonight, eh? Complete coaching masterclass by Darvin Ham and outstanding execution by LA in their halfcourt defensive sets. No Game 6 Klay or trademark Steph magic to be found here.

Speaking of the Warriors, they have some difficult decisions on the horizon. Draymond Green might be on the way out. Or they may need to find a way to get Jordan Poole the hell outta town. I love me some Klay Thompson, but obviously his injury history makes him a more inconsistent, slightly lesser version of what he used to be at best. At least with the loss, there'll be more time to ponder these tough calls in earnest.

Back to the Lakers: I'm totally not discounting the Nuggets' chances of winning the West. They have Nikola Jokic. If ever there were a worthy big man to clash with AD, it's him. HE is him. Jokic. Joker. Freak show. Not the flashiest brand of basketball but so very effective.

…Before you back Denver, though, fair warning re: LeBron's playoff history, which in the view of many is irreparably, stupidly [and not, actually] marred by six losses in the NBA Finals.

YEAR 20 LEBRON. FOUR WINS AWAY FROM HIS 11TH NBA FINALS APPEARANCE. GOAT. DEAL WITH IT.