Shaquille O’Neal Calls Out LeBron James’ Lakers For Playing Costly Hero Ball in Game 5

Shaquille O'Neal criticized the Los Angeles Lakers after losing Game 5 against the Houston Rockets.

Shaquille O’Neal Calls Out LeBron James’ Lakers For Playing Costly Hero Ball in Game 5

Shaquille O'Neal on LeBron James and the Lakers (Image credits - Firstsportz)

In Short
  • Shaquille O'Neal criticized the Lakers for their lack of intensity and reliance on "hero ball" in Game 5.
  • LeBron James scored a game-high 25 points but showed signs of fatigue in his 23rd NBA season.
  • The Lakers-Rockets series is now tied 3-2, with Game 6 set to be crucial for both teams.

Former Los Angeles Lakers champion, Shaquille O’Neal, was left unimpressed and disappointed with LeBron James and his former team’s performance in Game 5 on Wednesday night. The Lakers were far below their best as they suffered a 99-93 defeat to the Houston Rockets at the Crypto.com Arena. The loss saw their 3-0 lead cut to 3-2.

After the game, O’Neal did not hold back on the Lakers and called them out for their lack of intensity.

I hate watching Lakers play sometimes because towards the end, they try to play the hero ball. Okay, we’re gonna start playing hard now, and if we hit this three and tie the game, that’s not gonna work. LeBron knows that and understand that. These young guys need to understand that. They played flat, they played with no intensity. They didn’t have focus, and I’m glad the Rockets beat them.

Shaquille O’Neal on Inside The NBA

After injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves before the playoffs, it was expected that the Lakers would struggle to cope in the first round against the Rockets in a seven-match series. However, that was not the case for the first three games of the series.

LeBron James is far from his prime, but he turned back the clock and led his team to a 3-0 lead. His performances led pundits and analysts to believe the Lakers would sweep the Rockets, who were without Kevin Durant.

Shaquille O’Neal was critical of what he saw from his former team in Game 5. While the Lakers began well, they were playing catch-up for the majority of the match. A disappointed O’Neal will be hoping to see more from the Lakers in a crucial Game 6 in Houston.

LeBron James is beginning to show his age

It is a lot to expect from LeBron James to carry the burden of scoring and ball-handling duties in his 23rd season in the NBA. However, no player in NBA history has defied Father Time like James. In the regular season, he was seen as a third option behind Doncic and Reaves, but he has stepped up to the task against the Rockets so far.

LeBron James did struggle initially this season
LeBron James (Image via NBA TV/X)

Former NBA star Charles Barkley believes that the 41-year-old is starting to wear down.

LeBron is wearing down. When you get older, the longer the series goes, his efficiency is coming down. And what it’s doing is, it has affected Luke Kennard and Smart cuz they’re not getting wide open shots anymore.

Charles Barkley on Inside The NBA

James did have a decent game as he scored a game-high 25 points, three rebounds, and seven assists in nearly 40 minutes of playing time. However, his teammates, Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart, have struggled in Games 4 and 5.

Lakers vs Rockets is going to Game 7

It appears that the momentum has shifted a bit in this series. After going 3-0 down, every game is an elimination game for the Rockets. With their backs against the wall, the Rockets have found some life in the series and will be looking to ride on their momentum.

Shannon Sharpe believes that the Lakers-Rockets series will go to Game 7.

We saw what happened when they played that overtime game, remember? We saw how the Lakers looked. Now they play again on Friday night, think about that LeBron James has played 40 minutes back to back games. Monday night, Wednesday night going to play again on Friday night.

Shannon Sharpe on Nightcap

James has logged some heavy minutes in this series, especially in their last two games. The Rockets are a young and more athletic team than the Lakers. With home court advantage in Game 6, the Rockets will fancy their chances of taking it to the final game.

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