The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a second straight defeat to the Houston Rockets, falling 99-93 on Wednesday night. The result leaves them under pressure heading into a crucial away fixture.
Austin Reaves returned to JJ Redick’s lineup, but it did not translate into a series-clinching performance. Instead, the Rockets capitalised on key moments to extend the matchup.
Attention has now turned to LeBron James, with expectations rising around his influence. In that context, sports analyst Stephen A. Smith has made it clear he believes the Lakers’ chances depend on a stronger display from the 41-year-old.
Stephen A. Smith brands LeBron James ‘anemic’ after Game 5 defeat
Smith did not hold back when analysing the Lakers’ performance on ESPN’s First Take. His focus quickly shifted to LeBron’s overall impact on the game.
He said: “You certainly didn’t expect, with two full days of rest, for LeBron James to look as anemic as he looked last night. He just didn’t look effective at all.
“He just did not have it. And I think in order for the Lakers to win this series, he’s going to have to have it.”
Despite that assessment, LeBron finished as the game’s leading scorer with 25 points. He also contributed three rebounds and seven assists across the contest.
The contrast between Smith’s criticism and LeBron’s statistical output highlights the expectations placed on him, and that is unlikely to change until his retirement.
LeBron James not solely responsible but efficiency concerns remain
LeBron’s Game 5 display did not carry the same struggles seen in the Game 4 defeat.
In that outing, he managed just 10 points and converted two of nine field goal attempts, a far more concerning showing.
Even so, questions remain around his efficiency in the postseason, as his current field goal percentage has dipped below his usual standards.
According to SofaScore, he is averaging 44.2%, only marginally above the 41.7 percent recorded during the 2014-15 playoffs, marking his lowest level since that campaign.
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