PHOENIX — In the fourth game of the LeBron James Era, the Lakers finally looked like a complete basketball team, even though technically (pun completely intended) they were an incomplete basketball team.
They also got the validation of a win, a lopsided one on the road over the Suns on Wednesday night in the first half of a back-to-back that had become too weighted with importance for a game that early. But the Lakers didn't just need to win after their 0-3 start, and win without the still-suspended Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram. They needed to see James and Lonzo Ball meshing the way they ideally should, considering their skill sets.
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The Lakers’ 34 assists on 52 baskets, with just eight turnovers, says they meshed fine. So does the fact they both came close to triple-doubles, and might have hit the necessary totals had the game not been such a rout, giving James a chance to rest before Thursday’s game back home against the Nuggets. And so does Lance Stephenson’s near-triple-double (23 points, eight assists, eight rebounds) off the bench.
How much of that was because of the competition will be tested soon — immediately, actually. There likely will be more three-game losing streaks, and more hiccups in the chemistry, certainly when Rondo returns; the last game of his three-game suspension is Thursday. (Ingram got four games and won’t be back until after Saturday’s rematch with the Spurs in San Antonio.)
Ball has made his case so far in his two starts in Rondo’s place: 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists against the Suns, following a 14-6-6 line against the Spurs in the overtime loss.
James and Ball found each other often, as well as their other teammates, especially off turnovers in the transition game. James set Ball up for a pair of open 3-pointers, and Ball hit one, showing that he’s clearly made strides with his funky jumper. When either was on the floor, on or off the ball, the Lakers flowed, and when both were on, they played off each other well.
It was contagious, the Lakers all agreed.
"We’re continuing to get better at these things," coach Luke Walton said, ticking off a list of areas of emphasis, including this: "We stress sharing the ball, (and) we had 34 assists and 68 points in the paint. So the things that we’re focusing on, were getting better at, and it’s not anything other than continuing to do it, and guys continuing to do the work."
Again, much of it came from arguably their best defensive effort of the season — vastly better than against the Spurs — which enhanced their wealth of talent in other areas.
"We have the speed, we have a lot of ball handlers and we have a lot of unselfish guys that can move the ball around and get guys open shots," James said after collecting 19 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in a restful 28 minutes, none after the 2:24 mark of the third quarter.
A case can be made that the best pass James threw all night was to himself, off the backboard for a layup — but that would diminish how much he controlled the flow and kept everybody else involved. Meanwhile, Ball took advantage of his chances to score while doing what he usually does, starting with a half-court alley-oop to JaVale McGee off the opening tip.
The entire 48-minute run was cathartic, and not just because the Lakers needed the win. They were as hungry to add chemistry to the offensive talent, and they did so on this night. McGee noted the gauntlet the Lakers marched through in those first three games and pointed out that showings like this were just a matter of time.
"For us to only be together for a couple of months, I think we’re jelling extremely well," he said, "and when we get to that threshold of greatness that we can be at, I feel like we’re gonna be unstoppable."
They deal with another obstacle Thursday night, but they got the positive reinforcement they needed, right on time.
