LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are officially on the brink. After another disappointing second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Lakers now trail 0-3 in the series and sit just one loss away from elimination.
No team in NBA history has ever climbed back from a 0-3 deficit, but James is refusing to let that reality creep into the locker room just yet.
“I’m not angry or disappointed,” James said after Saturday’s loss. “Obviously, you’re disappointed with the simple fact that you’re down 3-0, obviously. But we still got life. That’s all you can ask for. We have to be much better on Monday.”
Los Angeles has actually shown flashes throughout the series. The Lakers either led or remained within striking distance during the first halves of all three games, including halftime leads in both Games 2 and 3.
But every time the game has reached the third quarter, Oklahoma City has completely flipped the momentum.
The Thunder outscored the Lakers 33-20 in the third quarter of Game Three and have dominated that stretch throughout the series overall.
James didn’t hide his frustration with how the Lakers responded after halftime.
“We didn’t have the energy, the effort and they put a thirty-plus point quarter on us,” James said. “That kinda took care of the game right there, honestly. We had moments, obviously in the first half, that was really good for us.
“We did a good job of sharing the ball and knocking down shots. But that third quarter, we didn’t knock down shots. We didn’t defend or get stops, I would say. We defended, we didn’t get stops, and it allowed them to kind of take control of the game.”
James also acknowledged the level required to beat a team as deep and disciplined as Oklahoma City.
“I mean, obviously, everything,” he said when asked what it would take to win Game 4. “Everything and more to beat a team like this. We gotta be at our best on Monday.”
READ MORE: Anthony Edwards Admits Timberwolves ‘Came Out Cool’ in Game 2 Loss