On March 12, Beijing time, in an NBA regular season game that ended today, the Lakers defeated the Wizards 122-109 at home, ending a bad 2-game losing streak, and Lakers star LeBron James pulled the team back on track with a wonderful personal performance. He played 35 minutes and shot 18-of-25, including 6-of-9 three-pointers and 8-of-8 free throws, and had 50 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 block.
This is the first time james has scored 50+ points in a single game twice in 6 days, 50+ points in two single seasons, and he has become the first player in the league to score 50+ points twice in three games after Damien Lillard in August 2020. No matter how you look at it, it's hard to believe that James is 37 years old, as Lakers player Tucker said, James is still the spiritual pillar of this team, and Lakers coach Vogel also said that his confidence in the team stems largely from James in his team.
Speaking of his 12 points in the third quarter, James said: "It's just trying to stay there, the longer the better." I don't know if you're familiar with that game, NBA Jam, which has lines that say, 'He's so hot!' Sometimes you want to make a bad shot so you can get out of that fiery state bar. I just try to stay in that zone and I get to shoot a goal or two. ”
And when asked about his secret to cutting 50+ points twice in a week, James said: "I don't know, I just feel good. I just put in training every day... It's about keeping the main business, that is, focusing on this season, every game, every opponent, a little bit away from the game, but not completely out of the game. It's about always staying focused on the moment. When the match day came, I came here 5 hours before the race and started preparing. Prepare my personal things, prepare what I need to do to help this team win, be ready to do it. ”
James's answer seems simple, but for 99% of the players in the league, it is actually difficult to achieve self-discipline like him, especially James has insisted on such a habit for nearly 20 years, which may be the key reason why he has been in good shape for so many years. And when we see such a James, perhaps we can better understand why Irving chose to leave James in the first place.
In the previous day's game, Irving played for the Nets, shooting 15 of 19, 9 of 12 from three points, and 6 assists with 50 points, which was the first time Irving hit 50 points this season, once again showing his unparalleled scoring ability, and also amazed many people, 29-year-old Irving, may be entering the peak of his career.
But if you compare Irving and James now, you will find that in fact, they are still at a super high level, and even combined with the performance of the whole season, James is actually above Irving, you must know that Irving is only 29 years old at this time, James is 37 years old, but there is still a gap between them, let alone 5 years ago.
At that time, Owen wanted to be the boss, but obviously around James, he could not get the opportunity, perhaps Owen also realized at that time, staying with James, wanting to be the boss did not know when to wait, combined with the current point of view, at that time, If Owen did not leave James, then he may not have the opportunity to be the boss for at least 5 years.