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The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 123-113 defeat against the Phoenix Suns, with LeBron James acknowledging a challenging start and the impactful performance of Suns' role players, Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale. Despite James' impressive 28 points and 12 assists, the Lakers struggled to recover from a 45-28 deficit in the first quarter.
James highlighted the Suns' effective use of role players, emphasizing the danger posed by Allen's consistent shooting and O'Neale's unexpected success in this game. He acknowledged the difficulty of defending against star players like Kevin Durant and Devin Booker while also dealing with the threat from role players.
The Lakers' slow start, both offensively and defensively, was a major obstacle, according to James. He emphasized the challenge of winning games when conceding 45 points in the opening quarter. The Lakers played solid basketball after the initial setback, but the Suns' role players continued to shine.
LeBron James connected the dots between the Suns' perimeter attack, the Lakers' struggles on the boards, and the need for better defensive coverage from perimeter players. He urged guards and forwards to contribute more in rebounding to support Anthony Davis, particularly in countering long rebounds.
Anthony Davis also acknowledged the need for guards and forwards to step up in rebounding, recognizing that solely relying on him to secure rebounds is not sufficient.
Despite the loss, the Lakers demonstrated resilience by keeping the game within reach after a challenging first quarter. LeBron James and the team are aware of the areas that require improvement, especially in countering opponents' role players and addressing rebounding issues.