After LeBron James missed a wide-open three-pointer late in Game 2, everyone can expect the “he’s not clutch” talk to surface again. And right on point, Skip Bayless feasted on the opportunity.
On FS1’s Undisputed, Bayless renewed his “I’m a LeBron James” hater license and criticized the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
“He did some all-time great things in the fourth quarter and to Keyshawn’s point, you said yesterday there’s no way he was to follow this up with another stinker in the 4th and he did not. Except for the bigger picture.
The bigger picture is they were up 20 with 10 minutes left in the third quarter. They were up 10 going into the fourth quarter…
Here’s my point: If you give Magic Johnson a lead at Denver against the defending champs going into the fourth quarter… If you give him a 10-point lead I promise you he’ll get the game home. If you give Kobe Bryant a 10-point lead going into the fourth quarter, I promise you he’ll get the game home. However it has to get home, he’ll get it home.
And LeBron, I always say, has the highest IQ in basketball you have to get it home to the fourth quarter and you have to get your big man re-involved.
…
He just doesn’t have the clutch gene.“
Skip Bayless on LeBron James
NBA analysts have long debunked the “LeBron James is not clutch” narrative, but Bayless made some interesting points. To win against the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers had to get everyone involved, and not just do isolations on top with the other four standing around. That’s how they got the 20-point lead in the first place.
However, the Lakers had their chances but fell short. The questionable calls did not help and neither did the lack of production from Rui Hachimura. The Nuggets won’t beat themselves so the Lakers must execute perfectly to pull one off.
