LOS ANGELES - As disappointing as things may seem for the Lakers after a 109-104 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday - the Lakers' 10th loss in the last 13 games - took Los Angeles just two games away from being out of the game. -In the tournament as a whole, LeBron James insists he will not miss the season.
"We still have games to play," he said as the Mavs finished 15-4 in the final 7½ minutes of the fourth quarter to win it. "Unless you stumped me, cut my head off, pushed me 12 feet down, then I got my chance. So that's my confidence."
James, who has missed 17 games this season due to various injuries and most recently played five games with a swelling in his left knee from late January to early February, is expected to call off his season at any time. There are no plans, sources close to James told ESPN. James is committed to playing this season, no matter where it goes.
In James' first season with the Lakers in 2018-19, he was out of nine of LA's final 14 games—including the last six straight—due to a groin injury before missing a significant portion of the season. after.
Just before last month's All-Star break, James was asked about the condition of his knee and said he would need more time to get back to 100 percent.
"The only way to come back to full force is with rest," he said. "And I don't have the luxury of resting. So it will wait until the off season."
The Lakers were coming off perhaps their worst defeat of the season on Sunday when they were kicked off the court by a home crowd en route to a 28-point loss to the New Orleans Pelicans team that was chasing them in the standings. LA looked better against Dallas, but the Lakers had several persistent problems.
They fell below 21 points in the first half, a theme of theirs, and Russell Westbrook fought hard, shooting 5-for-17 from the field. Certainly, Westbrook's woes have plagued the team since training camp.
"Overall should be better," Westbrook said of his game. "What I'm doing right now isn't good enough. It's not good enough."
Like James, Westbrook said LA still has a lot to play for.
"Very confident that we're all going to be fine," Westbrook said. "I believe in this group, as I always have. And we can play with the best teams. I don't worry about anyone who has to play. We've beaten the best teams; we lost to some So, our confidence in this group and my confidence is very high because I know when we set our mind and do exactly what we need to do in a night-in, night-out. Base."
The Lakers (27-34) are currently the No. 9 seed, two games at No. 10 New Orleans, in a virtual tie with the No. 11 Portland Trail Blazers, who are also two games behind LA.
"Obviously, at the end of the day, we came here and won the ballgame, and we had to play better. But as long as we have more games to play, we should have a chance," James said. "So, that's my confidence. I hate to lose. I feel like a poop right now. But tomorrow is a new day, and I'm going to be up and ready for the Clippers on Thursday. That's it - that's my mindset." That's just who I am."
