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Despite a valiant effort against the defending champs, the Los Angeles Lakers lost their opening-round playoff series to the Denver Nuggets.
The Lakers did have some momentum heading into the playoffs, but they were ultimately stymied by the Nuggets throughout the series.
After losing this game, fans and analysts took time to reflect on the Lakers’ season, trying to pinpoint what might have gone wrong for this team.
Ric Bucher appeared on “Speak” on FS1, where he highlighted the team’s most glaring weakness, at least in his eyes.
“The Lakers’ greatest issue is that they were relying on a 39-year-old LeBron James to be their closer,” Bucher said.
.@RicBucher: The Lakers’ greatest issue is that they were relying on a 39-year-old LeBron James to be their closer. pic.twitter.com/8QGXHdkoNz
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) April 30, 2024
Bucher indicated that the Lakers relied on James too much, and while he played well throughout the series, he wasn’t able to put the team on his back.
It is getting more and more difficult for NBA teams to be a one-man show, especially with the level of depth on rosters across the league.
James and the Lakers experienced this against the Nuggets, and now the team is at home, forced to prepare for the 2024-2025 season.
There is a growing belief that James could move on from the Lakers next season, especially considering their first-round exit this year.
This would not only be an exciting time for teams across the league, as they’d have a potential opportunity to land a player of James’ caliber, but it could also be a difficult time for the Lakers, who would need to try and rebuild their roster.
What’s next for the Lakers, one of the most historic franchises in the NBA?
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