“DLo had rare green light…” Skip Bayless takes sly jibe at LeBron James as Lakers triumph over Bucks with superstar’s absence

The Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, rebounding from their previous loss to the Kings. In a surprising turn of events, the Lakers secured a narrow victory without LeBron James, winning 123-122.

The contest remained closely contested throughout, featuring a standout performance from D’Angelo Russell, who led the Lakers with an impressive 44 points and nine assists. Anthony Davis also contributed significantly with 22 points and 13 assists, solidifying the Lakers’ success in a tightly contested match.

After the notable triumph against the Eastern Conference leaders, Skip Bayless commended the Lakers’ performance, especially considering LeBron James’ absence. James was sidelined due to an ankle injury, and he had previously alluded to the challenges he was facing following the Lakers’ game against the Kings. Despite LeBron’s absence, the Lakers’ success drew recognition and praise from Bayless.

I am not remotely suggesting the Lakers are better without LeBron. But they play more freely, with more spirit, more fire without him… probably because they all believe they have to do more and there’s no deferring to LeBron. DiLo had a rare green light tonight.

Skip attempted to emphasize that players like D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and others take on a heavier load when LeBron James is not on the court. While James brings leadership and initiates the team’s offense, it’s not accurate to claim that the team is unequivocally better without him. James, with averages of 25.3 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds per game, significantly contributes on both ends of the floor. However, the Lakers have achieved success in games where James was unavailable.

Throughout this season, James has missed nine regular-season games, and the Lakers have a 5-4 record in those games. Interestingly, the margin of victory and loss appears to be consistent in all those games. Key players like D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura, in addition to Anthony Davis and LeBron, play pivotal roles in the team’s stability even in James’ absence.

The Lakers, with a record of 35–30, are making strides in improving their standing in the Western Conference, recently surpassing the Warriors in the standings. This progress is occurring even as LeBron James has been absent from the lineup. If the Lakers can sustain this level of performance without James, they have the potential to secure more victories.

LeBron is expected to return soon, and with approximately 20 games left in the season, the Lakers will face formidable opponents in their remaining schedule. The team’s performance in these crucial matchups will play a significant role in determining their final seeding, with aspirations to secure the 7th or 8th seed in the Western Conference.