On January 16, 2022, Beijing time, the Lakers lost again, and suffered a tragic defeat, the whole game they had no chance at all, they were completely suppressed by the opponent, and finally they lost to the Nuggets 96:133 and suffered a big rout. The impact of the loss of this game on the Lakers locker room should be very large, and they basically showed a depressed mood throughout the game, especially in the second half!
James played 30 minutes and 42 seconds in this game, shot 9 of 23 from the field, had 25 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists, and the offensive end was not in good shape, and the plus-minus of the whole game was only -17. Such a poor performance is one of the main reasons for the Lakers' fiasco in this game, and not only on the offensive end, but also on the defensive end due to the emotional impact, Some of James's defenses are also not doing their best, which also makes many fans feel a little incomprehensible!
After the game, Skip Bayless, who has always been critical of James, said on social media: "James's Lakers have just suffered the worst loss of the season, losing to the Denver Nuggets by 37 points. Incredibly, the Lakers ranked first in the league for defensive efficiency last year, while this season ranked 17th in the league. James' defensive efficiency is in the 200th place, and he's now all offensive and not a little defensive. ”
This passage has also aroused heated discussion among fans, and James' offensive status this season has really reached the peak of his career, and his previous consecutive 30+ points are also the key to the team's victory. But it is also wrong to say that James does not defend at all, although James has a certain gap with his youth in terms of defensive footsteps, he is still more active in most games, chasing caps and defending well.
And James is 37 years old, really can't expect him to do anything on the defensive end, after all, the age is already there, physical fitness and youth have no way to compare, if too much energy is put on defense, then his efficiency on the offensive end will become worse, the Lakers may lose worse!