LeBron looks ahead after Lakers debut fizzles

LOS ANGELES: There will be no Hollywood ending to LeBron James’s first season in Los Angeles, and with his streak of 13 straight NBA playoff appearances doomed, he and the Lakers are focused on fashioning a blockbuster sequel.D’Angelo Russell scored 21 points and 13 assists against his former team as the Lakers were officially eliminated from playoff contention after the Brooklyn Nets beat them 111-106 on Friday. It’s the end of an era in the NBA. Not only had James reached the playoffs for 13 consecutive seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, he had played in eight straight NBA finals.Only three players have played in more successive title series than James: Bill Russell in 10 and Sam Jones and Tom Heinsohn both in nine — all playing for the 1960s Boston Celtics dynasty.“Obviously, I would love for the team to be in the post-season,” James said as the playoff prospects dwindled. “But right now, it’s not the hand I was dealt, so you play the hand that you were dealt until the dealer shuffles the cards and you’re dealt another hand and can do that.” Lakers president Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka will need to make the offseason moves necessary to get the most out of the remaining three years on James’s contract. The Lakers have salary cap space to target at least one big name to share the load with James.There’s a new front office in place in New Orleans that could revive the possibility that Davis would land in LA. “We have an opportunity to get better,” James said. “And that’s something that is definitely great to know — that we have an opportunity to get better from a personnel standpoint.”

from The News International - Sports https://ift.tt/2TV3NUh