Out For Revenge

It sounds absurd to even broach the thought that LeBron James could have anything to prove at this point in his career. 20 seasons in, with four MVPs and a matching four titles in hand, the accolades speak for themselves. However, the prospect of beating the biggest rival of his career, and the team that recruited the second-best player in the world just to take him down, has to be sweet 👑

• The Warriors’ absurdly stacked 2017 and 2018 squads drastically hindered LeBron’s chances at catching MJ in championships, with little hope of beating the most talented roster ever constructed

• Now, the tables seem to finally have flipped, with Golden State on the verge of being sent home, and the looming free agency of Draymond Green in the back of everyone’s minds (contract details here)

The Lakers don’t need the King to carry the load like those Cleveland squads did, which is fortunate because the 38-year-old James would have little chance of replicating his prior levels of individual dominance. Sapped by 20 years of MVP-level play and a nagging foot injury, LeBron picks and chooses hit spots, relying on the young guns to shoulder much of the offensive burden in the interim periods 💪

• After all, it wasn’t James or Davis carrying the Lakers to a 3-1 series lead in the fourth quarter of Game 4, but the unlikely savior Lonnie Walker IV 🔥

After falling out of the rotation through much of this playoff run, Walker exploded for a larger-than-life showing down the stretch. Whether he was hitting spot-up threes off LeBron’s dimes or attacking Curry in isolation numerous times for pull-up jumpers, Walker somehow dominated a court containing five future Hall-of-Famers ⭐️

• Walker’s transcendent reemergence into the lineup showcases the Lakers’ strong depth and palpable chemistry. From Walker to Austin Reaves to Rui Hachimura, LA’s young role players have all stepped up when called upon, showing veteran savvy well beyond their years

In order for the Warriors to fend off elimination and send the series back to LA, they’ll need similar contributions from their own supporting pieces. Despite some uncharacteristically inefficient three-point shooting, Steph was nothing short of miraculous in Game 4. He wielded complete control of the offense, manipulating his gravitational pull on the defense in order to create easy looks for his teammates 💦

• However, the offense seemed to stagnate whenever it deviated from Curry’s pick-and-roll action, which the Warriors went away from down the stretch. Curry will certainly look to shoot better in Game 5, but the key will be Klay Thompson and the Dubs’ other shooters finding a rhythm

• Draymond will be looking to rebound from last night’s tough game-sealing turnover, as the buzz surrounding his impending free agency continues to mount 🍿

In a series that has lived up to all of the generational hype so far, here’s hoping for an equally thrilling Game 5. Peep the lines for tonight’s matchup 👇

Lakers vs. Warriors Betting Preview (subject to change)

• Spread: Warriors -7

• Moneyline: Warriors -310, Lakers +250

• Over/Under: 226

Trivia Question: LeBron has already amassed the most playoff wins ever with 181. Who is No. 2?

For My Parlay Gurus

The Warriors may be out for blood in Game 5, but LeBron and AD understand the gravity of this moment. The Lakers can’t afford to offer Golden State any signs of life, and will need to showcase the same depth and composure at the Chase Center. I like LA to finish the job and LeBron to put up a throwback performance in another thriller 🔥

• Lakers +7 @ Warriors: -110

• LeBron James OVER 25.5 points: -104

$100 on this bet would win you $225 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

Want more sports content from Overtime? Check us out on TikTok 🗣

Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Join thousands of other informed subscribers

Trivia Answer: Lakers playoff legend Derek Fisher is No. 2 All-Time in playoff wins at 161

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Many will enter, only some will win. Giveaway ends 12 hours after the completion of the final game references within the giveaway. The winner will be notified via the email address used to enter. Restrictions apply. See the General Conditions and Releases sections of Overtime's Terms of Use at https://overtime.tv/terms for additional giveaway terms

©2023 Overtime Sports, Inc. All rights reserved.