From the Rafters

Taylor Geas

The Lakers taught everyone a really valuable lesson this 2022-23 season— People don’t tell you who you are, you tell them.And “Make no mistake about it,” Darvin Ham said Tuesday after his team fell out of contention, “This was not a one-shot deal. We’re going to be around. We’re going to be a problem to be dealt with, I can guarantee you that.”After missing the Playoffs last year and then losing every preseason game to tip off this season, it felt like an elephant was sitting on the chests of Lakers (players and fans) everywhere. Then one by one the team dropped their first five games. Everyone felt the weight— because it’s hard in L.A. when your Lakers are down.By mid-November, the Lakers reached 2-10. It was bleak.You can attribute the feeling to the same morose as when you’re in extreme credit card debt—you can’t imagine the day the debt is gone, and even though you’re making payments, nothing feels like enough.

Austin Reaves reflected on the season this past Tuesday and the malaise his team fought off, thanks to Darvin, when they were in the trenches. “I really just have to appreciate his mentality, his outlook on... life actually not even just basketball. You know when we started 2-10, obviously there’s dark days, you never wanna start like that, you wanna win every game. But I remember we were in film, and he was talking about how the sun’s gonna come up tomorrow, win, lose, draw, etc. The sun’s going to come up and we’re going to have another day to fight to get better. And just that energy and positive mentality to improve everyday kind of was just a trickledown effect.”And so, the guys kept at it, they were making their regular payments, they battled for wins and got them. But they were only making a dent in the interest, and game after game they’d inflict their own wounds, they’d fall to teams they had business beating, they’d swipe the card.

But the way this debt accumulated; it wasn’t about the money or lack thereof; it was psychological—they had to stop pretending, they had to stop holding back from who they truly were in order to get out of it.The team recognized this, and when the trade deadline rolled around, it was the most active trade season in the history of the franchise.Including the deal that brought in Rui Hachimura at the end of January, Los Angeles brought in six new players and two draft picks.As the All-Star break wound down, there was a whole new cast set to take the stage in Los Angeles. Not many paid the new personnel any mind, the majority felt the team’s story had already been written this season.Make no mistake though, the team still believed. “When you lead with character and you get a locker room to rally around belief,” Rob Pelinka said of Darvin this week, “that’s an intangible skill, that I don’t think a lot of other coaches have—that was on full display for Darvin this year.”Perhaps the swarm of critiques and blatant lack of belief from the outside created space for the thing that really mattered—basketball, the joy of playing basketball.The guys went 15-7 and finished seventh in the Western Conference, not bad cruising down from thirteenth. Maybe it was a fluke some people probably thought. But a lot of people started to widen their eyes; they started to believe too.And the team? They stay centered in themselves. Each member not only understood their part, they recognized that the person they are, the player they are, assembled something way bigger together than they’d be alone.But before a proper induction into the Playoffs the Lakers had to prove themselves again, once more, after doing it 22 times since February.And they did, defeating the Timberwolves in the Play-In Game and securing their place in the postseason run against the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies.The guys dismantled Memphis and then put the defending NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors, in checkmate, both series in six.

“2-10 to this,” everyone and their mother couldn’t stop saying, “How?”It was until the Western Conference Finals, when Denver came along and made things make sense again. It took four games of beautiful basketball for them to run away with a shot at a title— their first title in franchise history.It wasn’t the Cinderella story that Los Angeles hoped for, but it was pretty damn close—less Rogers and Hammerstein, more along the lines of the Cinderella story Bill Murray recited in Caddyshack.---After 48 minutes of play, 40 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, an exhausted LeBron James addressed his thoughts on his 20th year, “It was a very challenging season for me, for our ball club. Obviously, we know what went on early on and whatever the case may be. It was a pretty cool ride, but I don’t know. I don’t like to say it was a successful year, because I don’t play for anything besides winning championships at this point in my career.”Yeah, even after everything they accomplished, ultimately the Lakers fell short of their primary goal this season.If it wasn’t a successful year, was it a failure?

Failure, a word that carries so much negative connotation— failure isn’t bad though. Failure’s good. Failure shows you who you are, what you’re really made of.The Lakers have known who they are though; they’re defiant of low expectations, they’re relentless and will fight until the very end... but now, everyone else knows who they are too.“I texted him,” Austin said of Bron, “And just appreciated him for accepting me, trusting in me, and giving me an opportunity to be myself, help us win basketball games.”This is what this Lakers team did for one another.

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From the Rafters: WCF Are End of the Road for Lakers...for now

With 17.7 seconds left on the clock, D’Angelo Russell stood on the corner of the floor, his arms open to the home crowd, he pumped his arms up and down, inviting the arena to join him in the celebration of this Game 6 win over the Golden State Warriors. &nbsp;

With a 122-101 victory, the Lakers are going to the Western Conference Finals.  

So far on their quest to reach&nbsp;the 2023 NBA Finals, they’ve won every game at home. &nbsp;

(Jack Nicholson is also undefeated in Game 6's this season).  

The Western Conference Semi-Finals between these teams felt like a chess match between two grandmasters. Each game brought an even more calculated strategy on both sides. &nbsp;

All series, the Lakers were expected to be cautionary of the Warriors’ outside shooting, and tonight they used their own game plan against them. They shot 50% from three, Golden State went 27.1%.&nbsp;

“I thought we were locked in for as close to 48 minutes as possible tonight,” LeBron James said of the team’s performance. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Before tonight’s matchup, the guys were going through their pregame warmups, and everyone was lined up waiting around the arc as Austin Reaves was about to take a shot. When he made it, every guy started dancing and swaying and laughing along the arc. With a possible Game 7 staring them in the face, they looked like they were having the time of their lives. &nbsp;

Everyone should’ve known, right at that moment, that this game belonged to Los Angeles. &nbsp;

This squad that came together in mid-February recognized something in each other, something you can’t teach or practice. &nbsp;

Call it what you want, charisma, chemistry, energy, whatever, in a short time, these guys have formed a brotherhood and this brotherhood has made a team of men&nbsp;feel like giants because everyone holds everyone up.&nbsp;

“We play for each other,” D’Lo said after the game—and the statistics to support that claim carry on for days. &nbsp;

On a team with a superstar duo of LeBron and Anthony Davis, still everyone carries the weight. &nbsp;

If it’s not Rui Hachimura, it’s Austin Reaves, or D’Lo, or Lonnie Walker IV, this entire roster is deeply dependable. &nbsp;

And tonight, was a team win for sure, in every essence of what a team win means—AD had 20 rebounds combined with 17 points, Bron scored 30 points for the first time in a playoff game since 2020, D’Lo had 23 points, Lonnie went 3-for-5 from three on his way to 13 points, but in this team win, Austin Reaves lit the match. &nbsp;

Heading into halftime, the 24-year-old, who’s new to all this by the way, was dribbling up the floor as the clock counted down, as he stepped over half, he chucked the ball up and as the buzzer sounded, it dropped through the net. &nbsp;

The game was only halfway done, but the reaction from the crowd felt like it was the final buzzer. Austin whipped his hands in the air, and started pounding his chest as he journeyed into the crowd. &nbsp;

Reaves went on to score 23 points, hand out six dimes, and grab five rebounds.&nbsp;

“We have a lot of confidence in Austin,” AD said after the game, “He has a lot of confidence in himself. He wants to take big shots. He makes big shots.”&nbsp;

After that moment, the Lakers’ 10-point lead never dropped below that. &nbsp;

And then, the final seconds crept in, D’Lo took his post at the corner to call on the crowd, and&nbsp;the streamers fell from the rafters. &nbsp;

“Tomorrow is a day for us to kind of get away from the game a little bit,” LeBron explained. “Just kind of chill with our families and kind of recoup a little bit. But Sunday, and Monday, and then part of Tuesday before the game starts, we will lock in on what we need to do to try to be at our best versus a very good – a very, very good – and well-coached team. But I look forward to it when it gets here.”&nbsp;

This run isn’t over yet. And the weight the Lakers have to carry keeps getting heavier, but this team of giants keeps&nbsp;getting stronger too.

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From the Rafters: Highway Won, Lakers Drive on to the WCF

Los Angeles-- A little boy wearing a No. 6 LeBron James jersey over a white t-shirt with matching LeBron socks was standing on the corner of section 108 in the Lakers arena.

He was pressed against the glass, with his hands cupping his mouth, so the players would have a better chance of hearing him, as he shouted their names. “LeBron,” he said over and over. “Rui” and then Rui looked over at him after the third shout. He ran up the stairs, probably to report back to his parents, and then returned, “AD, ADDDDD, AD,” “D’Lo” he said a few times. And then as the lights lowered, he lowered his hands to his side and retreated to his seat.

A name the young Laker fan didn’t get around to shouting? Lonnie Walker IV. But chances are after the 24-year-old's crucial, fourth quarter performance in tonight’s 104-101 win over Golden State, he will next time.

After the game, after Walker scored all 15 of his points in the final frame, more than half of his team’s 27 fourth-quarter points, Lonnie’s teammates huddled around him, Bron, AD, Rui, D’Lo, everybody. They embraced their teammate, who, despite not always having the most consistent minutes, never counted himself out.

“It means a lot,” Lonnie said of his teammates’ confidence and support. “I really can’t put it into words, I’m truly ecstatic to be in this situation. But to have my teammates be there with me through thick and thin, it’s a great feeling honestly. I’m really going to cherish this day and soak it all in.”----There were a few legends in attendance for Game 4. Jack Nicholson made his debut after a two-year absence at Round 1, Game 6 and he chose this Lakers home game for Round 2.

The Showtime Lakers, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and their Assistant Coach throughout the eighties, Bill Bertka, were all in the building as well. And the Glove, Gary Payton, was in the crowd too, only he was cheering for the opposing side as the others mentioned above. Payton’s son, Gary Payton II is on Golden State’s squad and found his way into the starting lineup tonight.

The change in Warriors’ Head Coach, Steve Kerr’s lineup garnered some attention before the game.

Would GP2 be tasked with dimming D’Angelo Russell’s offensive luster?

Was this the adjustment Golden State’s game plan has been missing this series?

Payton did stifle D’Lo who couldn’t really get going and finished with four points off foul shots, but nobody had a plan ready for what Walker would bring.

“He was special,” LeBron James said of Walker’s 15 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

In fact, Lonnie’s close-out scoring ability made him the first Lakers bench player to score 15+ points in the fourth quarter of a playoff game since Kobe Bryant—exactly 26 years ago&nbsp;today.

“This kid is a beautiful kid,” Darvin said of Lonnie after the game. “He fell out of the rotation through no fault of his own. We made the trade, he had the injury, it was just a lot of different circumstances that weren’t his fault. But he remained a trooper, remained professional, remained high-spirited, positive, and really kept working on his game, attacking his game every day, really staying locked in on the information—especially in these playoffs—up to the point where he was able to crack the rotation. And you know, when your mind and heart are in a good place, the body follows. I’ve seen a ton of kids, played with them, coached them, where there’s nothing but negativity because their individual circumstances aren’t what they hoped them to be, and then when they&nbsp;do&nbsp;get the opportunity unexpectedly, they fail miserably. And so, kudos to him, shout out to him. He was a huge force tonight.”

Lonnie and the Lakers will take the court up North on Wednesday with the difficult possibility of closing out this series.

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From the Rafters: Game IV Goes to Walker IV & the Lakers

Los Angeles-- Game 3 traveled down the Pacific coast, and it sounded like a bunch of&nbsp;Warriors fans came too. After the deafening Laker roars&nbsp;from the&nbsp;crowd during the&nbsp;Round 1 home&nbsp;games against Memphis, it was interesting tonight to hear some sounds of life from the other side. But the road warriors didn’t propel their team to victory with their chants... not even close. &nbsp;

The Lakers' 127-97 victory gives them a 2-1 edge in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. &nbsp;

It's funny because Game 1 made this series seem like it was going to be a hard-fought battle that’d be neck and neck every match, but the Lakers got blown out by Golden State Thursday and tonight they returned the favor. &nbsp;

Is it because each team’s game plan is drastically different? &nbsp;

Simply put, it looks like the Lakers have approached this series with a heavy focus on their defense and coverages, the Warriors look to be prioritizing their&nbsp;high-octane offense. &nbsp;

In the Lakers' 27-point loss two days ago, Steph Curry and his 12 assists danced away with Los Angeles' strategy. He along with his teammates’ 21-made triples&nbsp;slammed the Lakers playbook shut. &nbsp;

Tonight, Los Angeles came in intent on stunning Steph. They held the playmaker to three assists and Golden State made only 13 three-pointers. &nbsp;

Golden State's Head Coach, Steve Kerr, talked before the game about the importance of being “the aggressor.” So, one of the questions going into&nbsp;Game 3 was, who’s going to strike first?&nbsp;

When LeBron didn’t score the entire first quarter, everyone was concerned... well everyone except LeBron. &nbsp;

“I let the game come to me,” LBJ said after the game. And yeah, even though the King was scoreless, he recognized the value in giving Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell space to do their thing offensively, and&nbsp;he focused on grabbing boards.&nbsp;

And after Bron’s sixth rebound, he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and&nbsp;moved to fifth on the NBA’s All-Time Postseason Rebounds List— The Scoring King breaks league records without even scoring. &nbsp;

When the Lakers got a generous lead in the third quarter, LeBron got to take it easy for the final frame after his 32 minutes yielded 21 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and a block. &nbsp;

That was not before he hurdle jumped over the courtside seats on the baseline, and ran into section 108 of the Lakers arena, after swatting away a pass intended for Golden State’s Andrew Wiggins. The crowd came to their feet, enamored by the sheer hustle from James. It was like a scene out of a seventies rock concert when the band breaks through the crowd of shrieking fans who are gasping for air and extending their arms out to reach at the greatness.

“Bron’s a guy,” D’Lo said postgame, “that can dominate the game from so many different aspects—passing, defense, communication. Those are things you don’t see on the stat sheet. He still led us in that way.”&nbsp;

And so, even without a shot taken for about 15 minutes, Bron was the aggressor. &nbsp;

Who will it be in Game 4? We’ll find out on Monday.

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From the Rafters: LeBron & Lakers 'Let' Game 3 Come to Them

You know how in the old Western movies, two cowboys would meet in the middle of the town square, exchange a severe look or two, a tumbleweed would blow by, and then both men would back away very slowly, with their hand on their holster, prepared to draw their gun the second their opponent blinked?&nbsp;

That was kind of the scene at the Chase Center tonight in San Francisco. Except the middle of the town square was a 94’ by 50’ basketball court, and it wasn’t two cowboys, but ten men facing off, nobody backed away slowly, they charged head on with speed. &nbsp;

But it was in fact a shootout, a showdown in the Wild West, and after a 117-112 victory, the Lakers were the last ones standing... for tonight. &nbsp;

“Helluva Game 1,” Anthony Davis said after a dominant 30 points, 23 rebounds, and four blocks performance.&nbsp;

The Warriors went into half with 15-made triples, but the Lakers were still up by one, 65-64 heading into the third quarter. &nbsp;

Klay Thompson had 18 points and was 4-for-7 from three, Jordan Poole threw in another 13 points and was 4-for-6 from the arc, and Steph Curry tallied another two three-pointers for ten points. The Warriors were shooting everything from a distance, and hitting their mark, but it wasn’t enough. &nbsp;

Why? Because the Lakers’ shots were aimed at the heart. &nbsp;

The Lake Show&nbsp;might as well have been in escrow on 1 Warriors Way because they owned the paint, they outshot Golden State 54-28 down low. The Warriors on the other hand, aimed from the outside, they threw up 53 triples, and after a hot start, they ended the night with&nbsp;21 made threes. &nbsp;

But the Lakers dabbled downhill and were rewarded for their bravery. They didn’t avoid the Warriors’ defense and their aggressiveness awarded them 20 more-made points from the line. &nbsp;

It’s going to be interesting to see what adjustments are made on both sides in the next meeting of this California Clash. Can the Lakers continue to control the paint? Do the Warriors have more firepower inside them from outside? &nbsp;

Darvin Ham left his team with his, “Fight the urge to exhale and be comfortable ...we didn’t come here for just one.” Game 2 is Thursday. &nbsp;

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From the Rafters: Downhill Shooting Stifles Golden State’s Triples 

The Lakers are going to the Western Conference Semi-Finals after a 40-point win over the Memphis Grizzlies. &nbsp;

Two days ago, Los Angeles had the opportunity to close the door on the Grizzlies in Memphis and advance to the next round of the Playoffs, but Los Angeles’ absentee defense, and the firepower from both Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, who combined for 64 points, brought Game 6 back home. &nbsp;

“I know the crowd plays a major part in giving us energy,” D’Angelo Russell commented after his career-high 31-point performance in Game 6. “It also takes the life out of the other team as well when it has the chance to. It forces the team to call timeouts when the crowd gets involved too. We’ve got one of the best fanbases in the world, globally. So, to have that on our backside, knowing we can use that to our advantage when we’re playing at home is a good problem to have.” 

Russell went 12-for-17 from the field, 5-for-9 from three. And with each made three, the crowd roared louder and louder. &nbsp;

“To be in a position to make the shots I've been making, making the shots I've been taking, making the shots I've been working on my whole career, so to finally make some is definitely a good feeling—but the win is better.”&nbsp;

It looked as though the crowd’s intensity fed D’Angelo’s confidence. &nbsp;

“Take advantage of what the game gives you,” DLo said. “If the game allows me to score, I score the ball.”&nbsp;

After missing the mark on Game 5, tonight felt like there was no way this Lakers team was going to pack their luggage and head back to Memphis for Game 7. The 125-85 win was an absolutely ferocious game. &nbsp;

“It was definitely a Game 7 mentality for us,” LeBron James said after the win. &nbsp;

A few hours before, 25 minutes after seven, when the Lakers filed out from their locker room, Bron appeared among his team, he was rapping lyrics from 2Pac’s Against All Odds.  

“All you old rappers tryin’ to advance. It’s over now, take it like a man” the King declared. &nbsp;

About two hours and ten minutes later, the entire Lakers team had a positive +/-. Among the starting five, the lowest +/- was +19. &nbsp;

“We understood,” LeBron explained, “that we had an opportunity to play in front of our fans and we wanted to try and end it tonight. We came out with a disposition, with a next-play mentality, and even when we made mistakes, we brushed it off and went on to the next play. I just think from the start of the game we were locked in on our game plan, all the way until the final seconds of the game.”&nbsp;

The Guys are back Tuesday; their opponent is TBD. But one thing’s for sure, whoever they’re playing is located just a little bit up the coast.

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From the Rafters: Lakers Win Round 1

Taylor Gaes

The best antidote to trash talk? Winning. &nbsp;

Los Angeles-- After a 117-111 overtime win over the Grizzlies, the once-doubted Lakers have taken a 3-1 lead in Round 1 of the Playoffs. This game might not have gone the way it did without a 38-yeard-old, 4x Champion, 4x MVP in his 20th season. &nbsp;

LeBron James made the 100-yard dash—or in his case, a smooth saunter from the players' parking lot to the Lakers locker room at 2:40 pm&nbsp;Monday afternoon, ahead of Game 4, at home, against the Memphis Grizzlies. He walked in with his&nbsp;black shades still on as he normally does. He was wearing a red and black sweater, black jeans, and a pair of Cactus Plant Flea Market Nikes on his feet. &nbsp;

He walked as if he was floating, gliding in a way, with each foot&nbsp;facing outwards just a little...you know, the classic Bron walk.&nbsp;He had a subtle smirk on his face.&nbsp;Ahead of their second home game, he seemed relaxed... it’s weird to say, but Bron looked at peace. &nbsp;

His general calmness lingered even as&nbsp;he ran out onto the floor, just after 6:00 pm,&nbsp;to get in some pregame shooting. &nbsp;

While watching, it appeared&nbsp;like he was in his own world, on his own court. it was just him, the ball, and the hoop—no fans, no media, no one. &nbsp;

Just before tip, the King waited in the players' tunnel that’s garnished from top to bottom with Lakers Playoff decals, he was hunched over with his hands resting on his knees. He had a look in his eyes like he was taking in everything— and nothing. His serenity had materialized into a deep concentration. &nbsp;

That peace would soon&nbsp;retreat to the depths of Bron’s bones. In its place,&nbsp;a ferocity flushed into his veins late in the fourth quarter when LBJ charged through the lane and bullied Memphis’ Dillon Brooks out of the way as he went up for a basket, made it and got the foul. He walked over to the corner of the floor with his arms flexed, and with one of the meanest scolds you’ve ever seen in the game, he yelled at the crowd, pounded his chest, and then approached the foul line. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“You know how momentum plays are made,” LeBron explained&nbsp;when asked about his emotional response.&nbsp;“And you’ve been a part of moments where you know that you can get a dagger play or a kill shot, and I felt like that, that play right there. After I made that And-1, I don’t want to say I closed the door, but it&nbsp;sealed it a little bit. There wasn’t much light for the rest of the game.”&nbsp;

After dismantling Memphis this past&nbsp;Saturday night, the Lake Show had the opportunity to strike twice at home. But&nbsp;what seemed like a promising start turned into a close game of contested calls and careless fouls— from both teams.&nbsp;

As the minutes started to wane, doubt crept in. Even after containing Memphis’ primary shooter, Ja Morant, to 19 points, it felt like the Lakers were going to split their games at home. But after willingly taking two charges, with 0.8 seconds on the clock, a LeBron layup over Jaren Jackson Jr. forced overtime, 104-104. &nbsp;

“I work on different layup packages,” James explained. “Tier 1 is a layup, just really right underneath the rim, where you lay it off the glass. Tier 2 is like the middle of the glass, the middle of the square.&nbsp;And tier 3 is over the top of the square. Shout out to Chris Johnson, we work on those depending on the shot blocker. So, I've had moments where I've been able to scoop those high layups.”&nbsp;

Do you ever amaze and surprise yourself, Bron was asked after the game. “Yep,” he answered nodding his head, trying to keep a serious face. &nbsp;

“When my teammates told me I had 20 and 20, I had no idea that I had 20 and 20,” LeBron pointed out. &nbsp;

Basketball-wise, there really isn't too much Bron hasn’t done. But this is the first time in his 20-year career that he’s grabbed 20 boards. At this point, he doesn’t chase after NBA records, the NBA records find him...&nbsp;

In Game 4, James broke a 50-year-old record, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain as the oldest player in the league to have a 20-20 game. Wilt was 36 years and 262 days old when he grabbed the accolade, LeBron is 38 years and 115 days old. &nbsp;

After the win, as Austin Reaves walked off&nbsp;the floor after dropping a team-high 23 points, he looked into the lens of the camera following in front of him&nbsp;and said two words: “LeBron James.”&nbsp;

“You know this is Austin’s first playoff series,” LeBron mentioned.&nbsp;“And we were talking after the game, and he was just talking about how much he loved this. He was saying this is the greatest thing he’s ever been a part of, like basketball wise.”&nbsp;

Not long after Austin, the King retreated to the locker room where a bucket of ice was waiting. He had in his pocket 22 points, 20 rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks from the night. When he was out of the fans’ line of sight, he let out a deep breath, his&nbsp;peace reemerged. &nbsp;

“These are the moments that I love,” LeBron said, dripping in exhaustion. “I love the postseason. I love being able to make plays, and be out there with my teammates, and give them experiences they’ve never had.” &nbsp;

The team is back&nbsp;in Memphis on Wednesday with the hope of closing out the series. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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From the Rafters: Don't Poke Bron

Los Angeles— For the first time in 10 years, Los Angeles bore witness to a Lakers Playoff game, and&nbsp;Game 3 of Round 1&nbsp;against the Memphis Grizzlies was arguably the loudest game the team has had all year.&nbsp;

The Lake Show went up 2-1 in this series after having their way with Memphis in a 111-101 win.&nbsp;

“Our crowd was phenomenal.” Darvin Ham said, “We felt them in the building. Thank God, we gave them something to cheer about.”&nbsp;

Los Angeles has a lot of pride because they’ve earned it, but pride isn’t constant, it operates on a dial. Self-respect is the constant, and it's from that place where you can find it in yourself to do what you need to do to crank that dial.  

In the previous two games, the Grizzlies outscored the Lakers in each first half. Tonight, the Lakers were up 53-37 after two frames. And they capped off the first quarter holding Memphis below 10, 35-9. &nbsp;

There was a guy (off the bench) who contributed 12 of those first-quarter points and created a commotion in doing so. &nbsp;

Rui Hachimura was 13 years old the last time Los Angeles had a full arena for a Playoff game; it was when he started playing basketball. Tonight, 10 years later, Rui entered the game and felt the full effects of Los Angeles. In a few minutes, Rui went three-for-three. He ended up with 16 points and was perfect from the arc (2-for-2).

“I’ve been practicing the shot all year. I was waiting for this moment,” Rui said after the game.  

Yeah, there are few things that dial-up this city’s pride like the Playoffs. The crowd was on their feet from the moment the team ran out. Even the arena’s guest service members quietly celebrated throughout the game. At one point, when a Lakers challenge proved successful, a staff member subtly dipped his head and pumped his fist. 

Another thing that gets the Laker faithful going? Loyalty. &nbsp;

After Game 2, Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks made some distasteful comments about LeBron James, and tonight Los Angeles rallied around the 4x Champion. It’s unclear if the chants from an arena full of Lakers fans got in Brooks' head or if he was just cold tonight, but he didn’t score his first basket of the game until four minutes into the second quarter, after going 0-for-5.  

Bron got going early. Known around the league as the “ultimate professional”, he let his skills do the talking. For his first basket, Brooks was guarding him (naturally). As Dillon continuously put his hand on LBJ’s forearm, Bron repeatedly slapped it away. Then, James got Brooks jammed up in a pick-n-roll with the assistance of Anthony Davis and closed out the matchup by sinking a fadeaway jumper.  

Things didn’t stop there. Just a few minutes into the second half, LeBron was taking it down the floor, Brooks, again, was guarding him and appeared to wind up and nail him right below the belt. Bron hit the deck, and the officials reviewed the play, ultimately tossing Brooks out of the game with a flagrant two.  

Memphis’ small forward finished his night with just seven points, two rebounds, and a steal. LBJ finished the night with 25 points, nine rebounds, five assists, a block, and a steal. 

“I don’t need to make a statement,” LeBron said after the game. "This is not my first rodeo. I’ve had this throughout my career.”&nbsp;

The point Coach Ham made postgame was this: if you’re going to doubt LeBron, that’s just going to put a fire under him. &nbsp;

After the incident, neither team let up on the physicality. The Grizzlies are known to be confrontational; the Lakers usually pay more attention to the game. But as Memphis continued to play chippy, the Lakers gave it back. They played with a level of tenacity no one had seen&nbsp;this season. &nbsp;

And it just so happens, right then in that third quarter, that’s where Anthony Davis went out of his mind. It felt like with every Memphis jab, Davis answered with a knockout. Memphis would regain their footing and then Davis would hit them with a one-two punch again. AD finished with 31 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and a steal—and he did it all with a stain of blood down his jersey.  

There were so many things that riled up the arena tonight, it would take forever to write them all down. Lakers Basketball is back in the Playoffs... in the Playoffs in L.A. &nbsp;

Fittingly, Bron and AD retreated to the locker room, respectively, the exact same way—with a cool, collected swagger.  

This town is dripping with pride right now. And the team’s got another opportunity to crank that dial up on Monday night for Game 4 at home.

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From the Rafters: Game 3 & The Place of Pride  

<strong>Game Time Update</strong>: The start time for the game on <strong>1/17/24</strong> at Crypto.com Arena has been moved to 5:30pm PT