DETROIT — The Los Angeles Lakers’ nine-game winning streak ended Monday night with a narrow defeat to the Detroit Pistons, and afterward LeBron James said his limited shot attempts simply mirror his new place in the team’s offensive hierarchy.
James, now the club’s third scoring option behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, did not register a field goal until the second half and finished with 12 points on 4-for-10 shooting. He still flirted with a triple-double in the loss, which saw Los Angeles erase a 16-point deficit before falling in the closing seconds at Little Caesars Arena.
“That’s the role that I’m playing for the ballclub. In order for us to win ball games, that’s the role that I’m playing. That’s just how the game was going,” James told Spectrum SportsNet.
Head coach JJ Redick echoed the sentiment, saying the offense must flow primarily through Doncic and Reaves because of their ability to penetrate and collapse defenses on nearly every possession. James has shifted into a tertiary role, frequently serving as a secondary ball-handler, screener and roll man, though Redick noted the 41-year-old retains the freedom to seize control of possessions when necessary. James did exactly that during the fourth-quarter rally in Detroit.
The veteran’s adaptability comes days after he broke Oscar Robertson’s record for the most games played in NBA history. James called the milestone “a cool thing” but said his pre-game routine remained unchanged.
With several regular-season contests remaining, Los Angeles continues to lean on James’ versatility while steering much of the offense through Doncic and Reaves, a formula that had produced nine straight victories before Monday’s setback.
Source: LakersNation.com
