Game 5 a Must-Win For LeBron James and the Lakers, Says Kendrick Perkins

Veteran superstar LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers will return home to take on the Houston Rockets in Game 5.

Game 5 a Must-Win For LeBron James and the Lakers, Says Kendrick Perkins

LeBron James and Kendrick Perkins (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Game 5 is crucial for the Lakers to avoid extending the series against the Rockets.
  • Kendrick Perkins warns that the return of Kevin Durant could shift the series momentum.
  • Dwyane Wade praises LeBron James for his exceptional performance in the playoffs.

After winning three straight regular-season games and the next three playoff games, many felt that LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers were on a roll and could sweep the Houston Rockets.

They felt as if the ‘King’ and his band of brothers had unlocked something no team was ready for. With their opponents having to play without Kevin Durant, they were already struggling.

But James and JJ Redick devised schemes to take advantage of any situation they were in, even when the ‘Slim Reaper’ was having a good game.

Then came Game 4, where some felt the away team would sweep the Rockets. But the tide turned. Not only did the men in white, purple, and gold struggle across the board, but their opponents came to battle with aggression that was absent in the first three games.

Game 5 is a must-win for the Lakers. I know that much. They better get it done… You don’t want to have this series extended, and all of a sudden, Kevin Durant comes back, and the Rockets, their confidence continues to grow.

Kendrick Perkins said on First Take

The former champion warned that the tide could tilt if the Lakers are not careful. Once Durant returns, and the Rockets feed off the adrenaline from their Game 4 win, they could be in a position to upset their opponents.

But Kendrick Perkins also believes that LeBron James will probably pull something out of his bag and seal the deal when playing in front of their home fans.

Dwyane Wade showers praise on LeBron James

While Kendrick Perkins threw caution to the wind, many of LeBron James’ critics are not worried after what they saw from him in the first three games. Close friend and former teammate Dwyane Wade said this recently:

LeBron James is expected to play better in Game 5
LeBron James is expected to play better in Game 5 (Image via DraftKings Sportsbook/X)

He’s been doing an incredible job… The first 2 games were masterful. It was LeBron James at its finest. It’s the same player we’ve watched for the last 39,000 years at this point… He’s just orchestrating things, man… He’s been that guy with the wand.

Dwyane said on The Wy Network

The Hall of Famer reminded his viewers that this is the same player whom they have been watching throughout his career. The father of three uses his unquestionable IQ to control games, and that is what he was doing against the Rockets.

Wade does not seem surprised and possibly expects his former Miami Heat running mate to close out this series in the same manner as he has done in the 23 years in the NBA.

LeBron James talks about how role players affect the playoffs

Before LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers return to Crypto.com Arena for Game 5, preparations will be based on how to counter what the Houston Rockets displayed in the previous game.

In the playoffs, everything changes, and so does how a team operates to get wins. One of the ways is to maximize the team’s role players, as the four-time league MVP explained on the Mind the Game podcast.

Assists go down because ultimately, a role player can win or lose you a game… But it’s that guy, or that guy. In their wins, he averages this. In their losses, he averages this.

LeBron James said

For someone who has played in more postseason games than anyone in league history, the Akron native knows that it is not the superstars that change the course of the playoff series.

Rather, it is the other players on the roster who are brought on with specific instructions, who tend to impact winning. That explains why James has been involving all his teammates in this postseason.

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