NBA Click & Roll: Lakers have had one heck of a week to start the season
LeBron and the Lakers just can't catch a break.
After LeBron forced overtime against the Spurs on Monday night with a three-pointer to tie the game at the end of regulation, he then missed two free throws in the closing seconds of overtime. Those misses left the door open for the Spurs -- and Patty Mills took advantage. The Spurs prevailed, dropping the LeBron-led Lakers to 0-3 on the season.
LeBron's missed free throws had fans ripping their new star and comparing him to some guy named Kobe -- who was much better from the charity stripe in crunch time. And be sure to check out this crazy stat about LeBron's ability to be "clutch" from the line.
And we aren't but a few games into the season and coach Luke Walton is already upset with officials. So much so that he let loose on the refs after the loss to the Spurs.
The Lakers get another shot at win No. 1 on Wednesday when they travel to Phoenix to face the Suns. Until then, let's look at some of the best plays and storylines from the season's opening week of action:
YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS ...
- When the Spurs traveled to L.A. to face LeBron and the Lakers, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich wasn't pleased with one aspect of his stay: the massive LeBron billboard just outside his hotel room.
- Halloween is just around the corner and the Portland Trail Blazers showed up to Monday's game in costume. And Moe Harkless and Damien Lillard were tops among some stellar costumes.
- A Cavaliers fan had issue with DeMarcus Cousins joining the Golden State Warriors. He thinks the Warriors are ruining the league. And the fan let Cousins hear all about it. Cousins' reaction was ... priceless.
- The most unlikely participant in the fight between the Lakers and the Rockets? Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis. No, seriously.
- The Golden State Warriors beat the Utah Jazz on a last-second bucket. That basket pushed the game's total over the 217.5 -- and gave one better a winning ticket on a 10-game parlay.
- All-Star centers Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond had a war of words after the Pistons victory against the Sixers on Tuesday night. Embiid said he owns "a lot of real estate" in Drummond's head. Needless to say, Drummond didn't care for that comment.
- While Embiid and Drummond were talking smack, Blake Griffin was busy dropping a career-high 50-burger in the OT win.
STORYLINES TO KNOW:
- Rockets ready for punches: James Harden knew it. He knew the Houston Rockets would have a bulls eye on their backs in 2018. And he wasn't wrong. Their opponents "play harder, they play a lot more confident. We just got to figure it out.”
- The Milwaukee Bucks opened a new arena this season. Had they not, they might have been on the move out of Milwaukee, writes Jeff Zillgitt.
- In case you're curious, former NBA commissioner David Stern still stands by his veto of the Chris Paul-Lakers trade. On top of that, he also called the Pelicans' GM "lousy."
***
Make sure to bookmark nba.usatoday.com for all your NBA news.