LeBron's Shooting Slump Reaches Crisis Point: Can the Lakers Recover?

The Minnesota timberwolves hosted the Los Angeles Lakers in a highly-anticipated matchup that saw the Lakers struggle on offense once again, largely due to the shooting woes of their star player LeBron James. As the NBA season heats up, James has found himself in a dismal slump, particularly when it comes to long-distance shots.

Going into this game, LeBron had been the most dominant force on the court for the Lakers, as is to be expected from a player of his caliber. However, his shooting percentages have plummeted in recent games, with his jump shots clanking off the rim more often than not. James, who has long been known for his ability to knock down clutch shots from anywhere on the court, has struggled to get into a groove, leaving fans and coaches alike scratching their heads in search of answers.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham said in a post-game press conference that while James has been shown the film and goes through his regular training routine to try and regain his stroke, the team cannot just focus on one player. "We have to work on making the right pass and moving the ball effectively, making sure everyone is in sync." He also added, "Sometimes, shots just aren't falling, so we need to be more creative and put our guys in positions to succeed, to take some of the pressure off LeBron." Ham expressed his confidence that LeBron would be able to snap out of this slump, saying "LeBron James is the kind of guy who's been through ups and downs in the league. He's got the highest basketball IQ in the league. He'll adjust and we'll work with him, so we'll bounce back from this."

It's no secret that LeBron's difficulty on offense is a major cause for concern for the team. According to ESPN's current stats, the Lakers' overall shooting percentage as a team is at 45.6%, 21st in the league. They have, however, been playing above-average on defense and are still within reach of the top playoff seeds. Lakers guard Dennis Schroder pointed out in a pre-game interview that there have been times this season when the Lakers were successful without relying solely on LeBron's scoring. "LeBron James can do it all" said Schroder, adding, "But there's times to make sure everyone else is involved in the play and we play as a unit. This team has more than just LeBron James on the roster. We have an abundance of scorers, good guards, talented players that play together."

The Western Conference in the NBA is known to be one of the most competitive divisions in professional sports and this season promises to shake up the playoff standings. It is still early in the season and the Lakers will need to keep plugging away and try to get LeBron James out of this funk if they are to hold any legitimate hopes for a championship. For the team's sake, Lakers nation can only hope that the King of the court recovers from his recent sluggish performances and regains the shooting skills that he's known and revered for.