Opinion: The Lakers have nothing to do without Lebron James

Lebron James has a sprained ankle that could keep him off the court for several weeks. This could be disastrous for the Lakers, who without Anthony Davis, their other superstar, are on a 3-game losing streak at press time. (4 if we take into account today's game against the 76'ers who will probably lose).

The Lakers are in a tailspin in the Western Conference, the most competitive in the league, and this is not good news. But can this be attributed to Lebron's absence? Undoubtedly.

Throughout his history, in the NBA There is not a team that Lebron James has not raised with his presence and hurt with his absence.

Beyond the psychological advantage of having the best player in the league, the numbers are undeniable. Let's look at some cases of the "James effect".

Cleveland Cavaliers

Lebron's original team from 2003 to 2010 had a dizzying rise, going from being a relatively good squad to one of the biggest threats in the entire league.

This is not an exaggeration. In his final two years in Cleveland, Lebron managed to finish with the best record in the entire league both times. The Cavaliers that year finished with 61 wins and 21 losses, well above Kobe Bryant's Lakers himself.

The following year, when Lebron made his famous move to Miami, things completely changed. The Cavaliers not only finished the 2010-2011 season as the last team in the Eastern Conference, with 19 wins and 63 losses, but they also achieved a disgraceful record of 26 consecutive losses.

They went from being one of the best teams in the league to one of the worst.

Miami Heat

Lebron would win 2 NBA finals with the Miami Heat, in 2012 and 2013, but when it came time to return to Cleveland, his absence from the Heat would mark them for years.

In James' final season in Miami, the team would finish with a record of 54 wins and 28 losses, second in the Eastern Conference. That year, Miami would reach the finals, losing to the San Antonio Spurs.

The following year Lebron would return and Cleveland and Miami would plummet to 10th place in the conference, not even making the playoffs. That same year, Cleveland would finish second in that conference and reach the finals, where they would lose to the Golden States Warriors.

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Cleveland Cavaliers (second outing)

Lebron would win a promised championship for Cleveland in 2016. However, like all greats, he would eventually go to play for the Lakers in 2018.

In his final year with Cleveland, Lebron would reach the finals again. The following year, when his transfer to the Lakers was completed, the Cavaliers would finish 14th in their conference.

Conclusion

Lebron is not a fundamental piece of the Lakers. Lebron is the Lakers. Throughout his history, he has shown that he is the one who brings his teams forward, not the other way around. The Los Angeles team could be in serious trouble if they fail to resolve their injury quickly. His role players, without James, go from being a fierce set to yet another lineup.