Patty Mills' final shot wins Spurs win over LeBron James, Lakers in OT | Bleacher's report

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.

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.

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.

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.