For the first time in his basketball life — NBA, St. Vincent-St. Mary's, and before — LeBron James played a full game at center. A la Magic Johnson in Game 6 0f the 1980 NBA Finals (albeit with lower stakes), James started at the 5 for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday and played forward and guard as his team snapped a five-game losing streak in a 132-123 win over the Houston Rockets.
“Tonight called for me to start at center, and I just tried to be ahead of a lot of plays,” LeBron said after posting 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. “I never played center in my life,” he added. “I've always been on the wing or handling the ball. I was a skinny, lanky kid growing up.”
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5c6tXfQrG0wOUKZ4v7F8Bc?si=1cd1c4d067c44cff
The Lakers have increasingly turned to “centerless” lineups, as Frank Vogel calls them — or, lineups in which LeBron and Carmelo Anthony play the 4 and 5 — in recent weeks. Besides a few defensive lapses, the advanced stats and LeBron's individual numbers support the tactic. With Anthony Davis out with an MCL sprain and the Lakers looking to belatedly jump-start their season — why not try it out?
“LeBron's plus-minus at the 5 is so ridiculous right now,” said Lakers head coach Fizdale. “To have guys out with COVID and stuff like that, I just took a gamble and said, ‘You know, I think that tonight's the night to start him at 5.'”
LeBron James just played 5 in 4 quarters and notched a triple-double.
Is there anything this man can't do? 😱 pic.twitter.com/PcLAsasxNB— LakeShow (@LakeShowCP) December 29, 2021
Beyond playing LeBron at the 5, Fizdale limited the team's rotation to eight players — despite being on the first leg of a back-to-back and with multiple players still in protocols. Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan were DNPs.
The Lakers improved spacing enabled Carmelo Anthony (24 points, 9-of-15 FG, nine rebounds, +17), Russell Westbrook (24 points, 12 rebounds 10 assists), and Malik Monk (25 points) to shine.
Tuesday was LeBron's fifth consecutive game scoring 30 points or more. He didn't directly contribute the uptick to more minutes at the five.
“I just feel like I'm in a really good offensive zone right now,” he said. “I can play any type of basketball game … this is year 19 for me, and I’ve been successful at the offensive end my whole career. If it’s a game that calls for a big line up I can be successful. If it (calls for) a small lineup, I can be successful.”
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