Bill Plaschke Reports: LeBron James led the U.S. to Olympic gold, yet the Lakers may struggle to even make the playoffs. He captained Team USA to victory over the world’s best, but can he guide the Lakers past the Memphis Grizzlies?
This summer, James’ brilliance on the global stage highlighted the unfortunate reality for the Lakers: one of the greatest athletes of our time might not have the support needed to win another NBA championship.
James’ performance at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics was nothing short of spectacular. At 39, he helped secure a fifth consecutive gold medal for Team USA. While the world watched in awe, fans in Los Angeles couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. Why can’t this level of success translate to the Lakers?
Dodgers Update:
Mike DiGiovanna reports on the Dodgers’ recent heartbreak. In a 9-8, 10-inning loss to the Rays, reliever Evan Phillips made a critical mistake. A full-count fastball to Junior Caminero resulted in a 418-foot home run that tied the game in the ninth inning. Despite this, Phillips rebounded to strike out the next three batters with precision.
This sequence encapsulates Phillips’ rollercoaster performance over the past two months. After losing his closer role in July due to poor outings, he has been dominant in August, regaining his place in manager Dave Roberts’ bullpen hierarchy.
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