Lakers rout Warriors 127-97; LeBron and AD lead Lakers to 2-1 series lead over Golden State

LOS ANGELES - For the first time in his storied career and his 275 career playoff appearances, LeBron James didn't take a single shot in the entire first quarter of Game 3 against The Warriors.

LeBron must have been getting a feel for the game, which sounds crazy for a player of LeBron's caliber but it was shown as that way because as soon as LeBron settled into the game, The Lakers hit the ignition and pummeled the Warriors.

Anthony Davis bounced back from his Game 2 performance in Game 2. In Game 3 AD dropped 25 points and 13 rebounds being the backbone defensively for Los Angeles, and a slow starting LeBron James finished the game with 21 points, 8 assists and 8rebounds, as Los Angeles won Game 3 and took a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors, led by their Batman and Superman in LeBron and AD, The Lakers are a very tough team to beat when their 2 leading superstars are on top of their game.

However, just as LA has strong superstars their supporting cast is just as good, The Lakers led by their Batman and Superman were supported very well by their fellow running mates, D'Angelo Russell scored 21 points with five three pointers, Russell started off hot to push the Lakers in a hot first quarter. The Lakers and Warriors would stay close throughout the 3 quarters, it was not until the 4th quarter in Game 3 where Los Angeles broke away. Game 3 of the second round playoff series saw the Lakers remain unbeaten in LA as they pummeled the reigning World Champion Golden State Warriors 127-97.

LeBron James spoke about his team's performance post-game.

“We’re one of the best defensive teams in the league, if not the best," James said. "For us to reach our potential, we have to defend at a high level. Not one team in this league tests you more in that than Golden State, so we have to be alert for a test on every single possession.”

LeBron might have not taken a shot until 5 minutes remaining in the second quarter, but he was the one right there on the front lines when Los Angeles would eventually break away. LeBron, as he usually does put on a show in the game that defied his ripe age of 38, but made total sense due to his almost 20 years of NBA Experience. There was a point in the game where at one end of the floor LeBron hit a spin move on Jordan Poole at one end and the blocked a shot from Poole on the other end shortly after he leaped the front row of fans and ran well up into the stands following a deflection against Andrew Wiggins. It is truly special what us NBA fans witness from LeBron night in and night out.

LeBron spoke of his slow start post-game, “That’s just how the game was going,” James said of his unusual start. “I didn’t want to force it. Just let the game come to me and make my imprint when needed.”

LeBron's comments after the game just show how experienced he is and the wisdom that he has at the point of his 20 year NBA career.

For the Warriors, after their huge Game 2 victory over Los Angeles they looked to steal a game from The Lakers in Los Angeles. However, that plan did not come to fruition as they got pummeled by 30. In the loss, Stephen Curry dropped 23 and Andrew Wiggins 16 in a collectively bad performance from Golden State who turned the ball 19 times and never really could give a counterpunch to the Lakers on either end in the second half, just another road game this year where Golden State has looked nothing like World Champions. Especially after they had the great momentum after Game 2 where they pummeled LA in The Chase Center.

The Warriors will look to give their fans a better performance in Game 4, Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals will be Monday at 10:00 PM in Los Angeles, Live on TNT.

Anthony Davis dominated Game 3, bouncing back from his lackluster performance in Game 2, blocking 4 shots and heading the the Lakers' defensive effort. The Lakers have been prided on defense in their 16-5 run since March 17th. The Warriors could not do anything on the offensive side of the ball to combat Los Angeles' defensive prowess.

Lakers Head Coach Darvin Ham spoke about his team's performance post-game.

“After that first quarter, guys just really turned it up,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “They dialed up their competitiveness, and their communication was great. … We were just playing a really physical, forceful downhill game.”

Klay Thompson, who led the way for Golden State with 30 points in Game 2, just like the warriors team as a whole apart from Curry, Klay, and Wiggins had a stinker. Klay dropped 15 points and seven rebounds in the Game 2 loss, Golden State's supporting cast only combined for 18 points, with Draymond only scoring 2 points. Head Coach Steve Kerr pulled his starters with 9:11 left to play in the losing effort in Game 2.

Klay Thompson spoke about the loss post-game.

“As ugly as this was tonight, we have an opportunity to respond on Monday, so there’s no point in dwelling on it and hanging our head and getting discouraged,” Thompson said. “We know how to respond. We’ve done it in our existence for 10 years here.”

In Game 2 The Lakers held the warriors to under 100 points, the 5th time that it has happened to Golden State this year in 92 games, The Warriors also got booked for 2 two technical fouls for arguing with the referees, who whistled Golden State for 22 fouls to the Lakers' 21. The Lakers also won the free throw battle as it commonly is when Los Angeles wins.

Stephen Curry spoke about the Game 3 loss in Los Angeles post-game, condemning the teams performance in Game 3.

“You can’t get distracted by stuff you can’t control,” Curry said. “As much as it’s frustrating, it’s the test that every team has to go through throughout the series, blocking out that stuff as much as we can. We obviously know who we are and what we’re capable of, all the things we always say after a loss.”

The series headlined by our generation's two greatest superstars after a intriguing start in Game 1 was been underwhelming to say the least. The Western Conference Semifinals has had more garbage time than watchable and thrilling play, In Game 2 Darvin Ham would take his starters out in the 4th accepting fate, and in Game 2 Kerr would do the same.

In Game 4 of The Western Conference Semifinal matchup between The Warriors and Lakers, The Warriors will look to even up the series and travel back to Oakland and Los Angeles will look to take a commanding 3-1 series lead against the defending NBA Champions. The series headlined by ur generation's two greatest superstars in LeBron James and Stephen Curry could either be headed to an underwhelming finish or an intriguing finish as we all expected. Game 4 will be Live on TNT at 10:00 PM.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis will look to replicate their Game 3 performances in Game 4 to take that commanding 3-1 series lead. The Warriors will look to be better in Game 4 as they were held under 100 in Game 3. Wiggins, Curry, Green, and Klay Thompson will need to better for Golden State if they aim to even up the series that has been headlined by our generation's two greatest superstars in LeBron and Steph.