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Harry How / Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers led by LeBron James still have not won thanks to Patty Mills.
Mills' winning dagger with seven seconds to go in overtime came after James missed two free throws and won a 143-142 win for the San Antonio Spurs on Monday at the Staples Center. Los Angeles dropped to 0-3 and played without the Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo suspensions, but still had a chance to win until James's last shot was over.
LaMarcus Aldridge (37 points and 10 rebounds) and DeMar DeRozan (32 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds) were the spearheads of San Antonio, while Kyle Kuzma replied with 37 points and eight boards for the categories Violet and Gold. James just missed a triple-double with 32 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds.
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Lakers fans have zero cause for concern despite a slow start
This was not the scenario for Lakers fans.
The iconic franchise with 16 championships landed an iconic James player and post-Kobe Bryant reconstruction was finally over. Los Angeles would once again be the center of the world of basketball and Western Conference contenders would have trouble keeping up.
Instead, the Lakers lost their first two games by a combined total of 18 points against the Houston Rockets and the Portland Trail Blazers and seemed lethargic for stretching Monday on the way to another defeat, even though James provided a thrill with a tie with three in the regulation final.
It would be easy to panic after five consecutive campaigns without playoffs, but that would ignore James' story in his first year with the teams.
The 2010-11 Miami Heat kicked off on 8-7 despite the potential of future Hall of Fame Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in their bonus next to James. They eventually overcame their inconsistency and reached four consecutive NBA finals, but that was not the monumental start expected by many.
The Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014-15 also had potential future Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love Hall of Fame nominees, but had started a nasty 19-20 before coming back on track and reaching four consecutive finals.
Jason McIntyre @jasonrmcintyre
Reminder before going to bed:
LeBron started 9-8 in Miami
LeBron started 19-20 at Cleveland Part IIThe Lakers will be fine. Lotta new pieces. Exhale.
It will be an elite team in the West.
James is a great player of all time, but it's an important fit playing alongside him. The mere fact that it is the face of the league means that the Lakers will always get the best shot from the opponent, and the young Lakers core is in rebuilding mode since his arrival. The win-and-now pressure is something new, in addition to learning to play with someone who dominates the ball and tilts the offensive in his direction.
Like the Heat and the Cavaliers before them, the Lakers will finally understand when to wait for James' passes and where to be on the ground to exploit the openings created by the defensive attention that he attracts. It is at this moment that the consequent gains will arrive.
There were flashes of what Los Angeles will become with Josh Hart (20 points and 10 rebounds) and Kuzma took advantage by taking advantage of James' assists. Lonzo Ball also hinted at his own development with 14 points, although he will have to shoot better than the 30.5% depth he's achieved last season while sharing ball handling tasks .
Kuzma, in particular, was impressive on Monday and did not hesitate to face the Spurs defenders and switch to takeover mode while James was resting late in the third. This type of development is far more important than a loss of October.
James has played in the last eight finals of the NBA and knows how to overcome slow starts with a new team. The 0-3 start is just a slower in what will become a successful season.
DeRozan's presence makes Spurs the most underrated threat in the playoffs
A quick glance at the Western Conference reveals a list full of contenders beyond the defending champion, the Golden State Warriors.
Between the Houston Rockets with James Harden and Chris Paul, the Lakers with James, the New Orleans Pelicans with Anthony Davis, the Utah Jazz with Donovan Mitchell and the Oklahoma City Thunder with Russell Westbrook and Paul George, it's easy to forget a Spurs team which relies on a constant average riders and flawless execution.
Do it at your own risk because Gregg Popovich's up-and-coming system is behind 21 playoff matches and a group that finished fourth in the league in terms of defensive score NBA.com.
Kevin O'Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
The Lakers' defense offers no resistance against the Spurs. Although San Antonio lives in the mid-range, its appearance is quality.
That's how the Spurs were able to play in the playoffs in 2017-18 despite just nine Kawhi Leonard games and why they are all the more dangerous this season with DeRozan.
The system was being demonstrated early, as San Antonio closely followed a Los Angeles-backed defense and scored 40 points in the first quarter with a deadly ball movement, steady motions and recesses, DeRozan attacking the Defenders face each other and Aldridge drop the elbow jumpers.
The ruthless efficiency has shown how much the Spurs can be fearsome when they work with all the cylinders.
It was thanks to this system that the Spurs managed to win a game against the mighty Warriors in the first round of the playoffs of last season when James and the Cavaliers could not qualify for the finals of the NBA. San Antonio also had a half-time lead in one loss and lost another single digit, which was remarkable given that there was no one who could take over in critical time with Leonard put away.
Enter DeRozan, who gives the Spurs an All-Star caliber player on the wing to go with Aldridge on the blocks and at the elbow.
NBA @NBA
DeMar DeRozan scores again! It has up to 25 PTS, 9 ASTS and 6 REBS on @NBATV. #GoSpursGo https://t.co/jiN2Si0CNq
The system can keep the Popovich team in the first three quarterfinals before DeRozan demands his will at the end. He had 11 points, five assists and three rebounds in the fourth quarter and extra time against the Lakers, helping to improve the Spurs' record to 2-1.
His presence makes San Antonio a formidable first-round opponent for all title contenders.
And after?
Both teams play again on Wednesday, the Lakers at the Phoenix Suns and Spurs hosting the Indiana Pacers.
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