After a disappointing first game of the playoffs for LeBron James, DeMarcus Cousins isn’t ready to panic just yet.
In Game 1 of the Western Conference playoff showdown between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers, the Wolves stole a game in Hollywood, in large part thanks to LeBron James posting only an inefficient 19 points.
Of course, James is one of the best players in NBA history and one of the great playoff performers, and a single lost game does not mean Los Angeles should panic. However, in a loaded Western Conference, there is no such thing as an easy first-round matchup, and the Lakers were looking to take a lead.
One former player isn’t worried about James’ ability to bounce back in the next games, and is urging the team to just take it one game at a time.
In the loss, Luka Doncic scored 37 excellent points and made half of his shots from deep.
Overlooked behind James’ game was Austin Reaves, who also disappointed, shooting only 38.5% from the floor. If the Lakers’ Big Three can play the way they ended the season, there’s no reason for a first-game loss to get under their skin.
“Obviously, it’s embarrassing,” said DeMarcus Cousins of the loss. “Nobody wants to lose at home like that. But it is one game.
“It’s also the Lakers with two guys that we’ve seen do this at a high level many, many times in LeBron James and Luka.”
With James and Doncic leading the way, as well as a proven supporting cast led by Reaves, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jaxson Hayes, and Rui Hachimura, the Lakers are expected to bounce back.
“Is it time to panic?” asked Cousins. “Absolutely not. But no one wants to start this series off in that way. Obviously, you want to set the tone early, jump out early on teams.
“But I don’t think this is a moment of panic. I think we’ll see a better showing from the Lakers. I definitely think we’ll see a better showing from LeBron James.”
If Doncic and James fail to coexist in this series, which seems like a leap, there will naturally be some questions about whether or not the Lakers actually made the right call in trading Anthony Davis away for Doncic.
After all, James and Davis have proven themselves to be a title-winning duo, and James and Doncic got blown out in their first game together in the postseason.
The Lakers’ front office won’t admit this until after James retires, but it is plainly clear that they made the trade to prepare for success post-James. The move was not made to maximize LeBron, it was meant to breathe some second life into the franchise when the inevitable happens, and the real payoff won’t be apparent until 2026 or 2027, when Doncic alone is the face of the franchise.
