Throughout his 21-year NBA career, there hasn’t been a team that has gained a psychological edge over a LeBron James -led team, nor has any player consistently had more impact than The King on the court.
However, Nikola Jokic and his Denver Nuggets have demonstrated dominance against the Lakers over the past year, defeating them in 11 consecutive games and consistently killing off his morale.
After witnessing the Nuggets take a commanding 3-0 lead against the purple and gold and push them to the brink of early elimination, Kendrick Perkins is convinced that the only way James can win his much-desired 5th championship is if Jokic enters early retirement.
How has Jokic had a better impact than LeBron?
Despite the two-time MVP making an impact on all fronts, averaging 27.7 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists over the three games of their 2024 playoff series, James isn’t far behind, averaging 26.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 9.7 assists in that span at the age of 39.
However, the most notable disparity between the Nuggets and Lakers’ trajectory is in how the supporting cast has reacted and fed off their energies. While the defending champions have witnessed three other players averaging more than 18.0 points per game in the series, the Lakers have seen no other player besides AD average more than 15.0 points and just two players (D’Angelo Russell and AD) making more than 3.0 assists per game.
So, it appears evident that while the Joker can afford the luxury of taking a step back midway through games, James is compelled to lead from the front, making plays, defending, and scoring points if the Lakers stand any chance of competing against Michael Malone’s team.
LeBron is still hoping to bounce back
Despite witnessing his team being dominated on the court by the same opposition, with the recurring storyline of being outplayed in the second half for the 11th consecutive occasion, James remains aware that one win can alter the trajectory of this entire first-round series.
In his post-game interview, the four-time Finals MVP emphasized the importance of taking one game at a time and throwing the kitchen sink to secure a victory in Game 4 at home. Taking small steps from there onward is crucial for LA to stage a comeback in this series.
Although it’s difficult to dispute that everything in this series so far suggests the Lakers are clearly not at the same level as the Nuggets and are potentially facing another clean sweep at the hands of Jokic & Co., don’t anticipate a different outcome if Darvin Ham’s team come out as a more cohesive unit in Game 4.
Related: "I love LeBron to death but that's not winning basketball" - Robert Horry criticizes Lakers execution late in Game 2 vs. Nuggets
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