5 Massive Takeaways as LeBron James’ Blockbuster Return Fuels Lakers’ Comeback Win

LA Lakers superstar LeBron James returned on Tuesday night to make his season debut against the Utah Jazz. There were several doubts about his fit amid the Lakers’ 10-4 run. Some even suggested that James might ruin the team’s momentum built by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. However, a record 23rd season in the NBA started with James cruising to 11 points, 12 assists, three rebounds, one steal and only one turnover in 29: 37 minutes. He shot 4 of 7, including 2 of 3, fueling LA’s massive comeback win. Here are the five biggest takeaways from LeBron James’ sensational return to the LA Lakers lineup. 70% Win (110-25-1) 70% Win (110-25-1) 70% Win (110-25-1) Unlock Free tips from our Experts Get Picks Now 5 Biggest Takeaways as LeBron James Makes Blockbuster Return for LA Lakers #1 LeBron James looks comfortable in the corner One of the biggest concerns around the trio of James, Doncic and Reaves was their usage rates. James has been the focal point of offense on almost all his teams. However, Doncic and Reaves, who are closing in on their primes, have thrived as LA’s floor generals. James’ return could have confused the Lakers offensively, but it wasn’t the case. The 40-year-old has seemingly reinvented himself. As opposed to what many experts believed, James was comfortable sitting in the corner and waiting for his opportunities, as opposed to hijacking the offense. #2 LeBron James is still a nightmare in transition Everyone has kept a close eye on James’ battle against ‘Father Time.’ After an injury delayed his season debut, concerns arose about his ability to match his explosiveness over the past few years. James quashed those doubts from the second quarter onwards, proving he’s still a nightmare to guard in transition. The Lakers missed having an athlete like James to put them in advantageous situations on the fastbreak, even during their 10-4 run without him. #3 Second units look more dynamic with LeBron James James has bolstered the Lakers’ second unit alongside Reaves. LA struggled to have a dynamic presence in those non-Doncic lineups, but James has quickly changed that. Entering this contest, the Lakers’ bench had the lowest scoring average (24. 2) league-wide. On Tuesday, the bench scored 40 points, which would rank them top six in the NBA. James’ elite playmaking is one of the massive swing factors in this shift. #4 Lakers must start Marcus Smart with LeBron James The Lakers will need some lineup tweaks with James back. One significant change would be to start Marcus Smart over Rui Hachimura. The latter, who has been one of the best shooters for the Lakers over the past few seasons, wasn’t as effective on Tuesday, especially defensively. Hachimura’s role on defense clashes with James’ duties as a helper. It also disrupted roles for other players, leading to the team’s early struggles on defense against Utah, seeing LA trail by 11 points. The Lakers’ collective lack of footspeed with Hachimura was a glaring weakness. Smart’s addition would fix that issue, as he’s known for his point of attack defense. He can also guard bigger players if needed to compensate for the lack of size. #5 LeBron James looks healthy James entered this season with multiple health issues. He suffered an MCL injury in the playoffs last April and had sciatica before in August, which delayed his season debut. There were doubts about the impact those blows would have on him on the court. However, James looked relatively healthy for game one of the season. His conditioning will likely improve from here on.
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