LeBron James has given insight into what his team must not do when they play the Warriors in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday.
“You can’t make a mistake,” LeBron told Jovan Buha. “They’ll make you pay. You can’t make a mistake. It’s that simple.”
The 20-season veteran knows firsthand what making a mistake against Golden State can cost, as he matched up with them in the NBA Finals for four consecutive years when he was with the Cavaliers (2014-18).
In three of those instances, the Warriors triumphed over the Cavs (2015, 2017-18). 2016 was the lone year that LeBron was able to overpower the Dubs, but it took a record-setting comeback after his opposition led the series 3-1.
Of course, LeBron was awarded Finals MVP for his performances.
These two sides have more recent postseason history than that though, as they met in the 2021 play-in tournament. The Lakers won the game 103-100 to secure the seventh seed.
It was King James himself who shot a game-winning three pointer from the right wing, only moments after Draymond Green poked him in the eye.
Both teams, and their players, have changed a lot since that play-in game. James and Green have even become quite close friends but one thing remains. LeBron and Anthony Davis are yet to be defeated in a playoff series where both of them are healthy.
Golden State vs. Los Angeles Lakers Western Conference semifinals series starts on Tuesday, May 2 at 7:00PM PDT.
Read more: Draymond Green Wants Everyone to Appreciate Warriors vs. Lakers Series