LeBron James Uses NFL Analogy to Explain Lakers' Loss to Dillon Brooks, Suns
LeBron James used a cross-sport analogy to explain how the Phoenix Suns snapped the Los Angeles Lakers' seven-game winning streak on Monday night.
Speaking to reporters after the Lakers' 125-108 loss, James brought out some NFL terminology while discussing how all of their turnovers came back to bite them.
"Turnovers, transition points," James said. "And obviously, on our home floor and against a disruptive defense like that, you can't turn the ball over that much. And they were pretty much all pick-sixes. They not only turned us over, they were able to convert."
It's not often that an NBA game receives similar analysis to the NFL, but let's indulge James' analogy in this case. One of the oldest axioms in football is the team that wins the turnover battle will usually win the game.
The Lakers committed 22 turnovers against the Suns, with Luka Dončić tying his career-high with nine giveaways. Four of his turnovers came in a two-minute span late in the second quarter that helped Phoenix turn a 48-47 deficit with 4:17 remaining into a 66-52 lead going into halftime.
Phoenix finished the game with 32 points off the Lakers' 22 turnovers.
Adding to the frustration for the Lakers is the Suns played most of this game without Devin Booker. He played 10 minutes in the first quarter before being removed due to a groin injury.
Turnovers and poor defense doomed the Lakers. They allowed the Suns to shoot 56.5 percent overall, including 17-of-39 from three-point range.
As good as this start to the season has been for Los Angeles, Monday night was indicative of how the team could struggle going forward. The Lakers rank 18th in defensive rating (115.3).
The Philadelphia 76ers are the only team that has a winning record with a worse defensive rating (115.6).
James also seems be slowly working his way back into peak shape after missing the first 14 games of the season. He has shot under 45 percent from the field in three of his first five games, including a season-low 30.0 percent (3-of-10) against the Suns.
Some of the problems from Monday night will work themselves out. Dončić isn't going to be as sloppy with the ball, for instance.
The margin for error with the Lakers is small, though, because of their defensive limitations. They have to be great when they have the ball to be a serious title threat in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles is still second in the West with a 15-5 record, but its upcoming schedule is difficult with six of its next eight games against teams over .500. The Lakers will begin a three-game Eastern Conference road trip on Thursday against the Toronto Raptors.
