Los Angeles (USA), Apr 29 (EFE).- The Los Angeles Lakers tore apart the Memphis Grizzlies this Friday (125-85), qualified for the Western semifinals (4-2) and, after a start season that was heading for a dismal flop, they are now a reborn and fiercely competitive team that has earned the right to playoff dreams.
Hardly anyone in Los Angeles imagined that LeBron James’ Lakers, who started the year with a ridiculous 2-10, would be alive at the end of April, with the wind in their favor and waiting for a rival in the Western semifinals, which will come out of the series between the Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors (3-3).
The very meritorious resurrection of these Lakers was given thanks to several ingredients.
Thus, the departure of the controversial Russell Westbrook, the signings of key players (D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt…) and the step forward of Austin Reaves were essential to provide support for a LeBron and an Anthony Davis finally recovered of his physical problems.
With an 18-8 since the closing of the transfer market and ‘play-in’ through, the Lakers (seventh in the West) were played in the first round by Ja Morant’s Grizzlies (seconds).
But those in purple and gold silenced the brashness, rage and youth of Memphis throughout the series and especially this Friday with a magical night in which they were a steamroller from start to finish.
D’Angelo Russell (31 points on an overwhelming 12 of 17 shooting and 5 and 9 on 3-pointers), Davis (16 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks) and LeBron (22 points on 9 of 13 shooting) led this Friday to some Lakers who were already winning 36 points in the third quarter.
The locals dazzled with 53.8% shooting and their impressive defense broke the visiting offense (30.2%).
Almost no one was saved in these disappointing and overmatched Grizzlies: Morant crashed with 10 points (3 of 16 shooting), Desmond Bane only had 15 points (5 of 16), Jaren Jackson Jr. stayed at 14 (3 of 12) and the controversial Dillon Brooks only contributed 10 (4 of 11).
The Spanish Santi Aldama was one of the few worthy of Memphis and finished as the top scorer of his team with 16 points and 5 rebounds.
Celebrities such as Adele attended this evening with capital letters in the Hollywood mecca, but above all two spectators stood out: Jack Nicholson, eternal fan of the Lakers and who had not been to the stadium since October 2021; and a Kyrie Irving that further encouraged the rumors about a hypothetical arrival in this franchise.
ANGELINA EXHIBITION
Morant and Brooks started the engine of some Grizzlies that bit at the start of the game (5-9) but soon ran out of gasoline.
With a strong defensive display and energy clearly on their side, the Lakers closed the last nine minutes of the first quarter with a fantastic 26-11 run (31-20 on the scoreboard).
A very effective Russell (10 points with 5 of 8 shooting) led the onslaught of some Lakers with very active LeBron and Davis (13 points between the two), who achieved 56.5% shooting in the first quarter and pulverized the Memphis offense down to a dismal 29.2% shooting.
The local gale did not stop in the second quarter.
Hachimura and Wenyen Gabriel joined from the bench, the defense did not leave a loophole and LeBron got a two plus one that placed his team on the brink of +20 (46-27 with 5.50 for the break).
The Lakers would not take long to overcome that barrier against some Grizzlies whose legs were shaking.
With a withered 32.7% facing the basket, the visitors finished a terrible first half (59-42) in which their top scorer was Brooks with 10 points and in which all their referents, de Morant (7 points with 2 of 8 in shots) to Bane (7 points with 3 of 9) going through Jackson Jr. (3 points with 1 of 8 in addition to 3 fouls).
For every long face on the Grizzlies there was an ear-to-ear grin on a Lakers who all turned out great.
Davis was a titan inside (11 points and 10 rebounds) and LeBron, after his bad fifth game, showed off with 16 points at halftime, including a splendid dunk from behind.
Two consecutive three-pointers from Russell and one more from Vanderbilt deactivated any explosive that the Grizzlies had devised in the locker room to set the game on fire (68-45 with 10:21 on the clock).
The local defense continued to be an impenetrable dam and Aldama suffered it first hand with a great block from Davis.
The pivot fell over and the stands responded with shouts of “AD, AD!”.
By then, the Crypto.com Arena was a huge party and everyone wanted to invite a round: Russell hit 4 3-pointers in that room alone, Davis did what he wanted in the paint, LeBron didn’t let go of the baton, Reaves left sparkles here and beyond.
Faced with such a recital, the Grizzlies were a team without pride or soul that completely sank with a 45-21 in the third quarter and that faced the last period with an unapproachable 100-67.
With the reserves already on the court in the fourth quarter, the Lakers closed with fireworks their first qualification for the West semifinals since 2020 in the ‘bubble’ and the first before their audience since 2012.
David Villafranca
