“LeBron and Lakers gear up for the Game 4 battle against resilient Nuggets – ESPN”

On Saturday, the Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 127-97 in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals. The Lakers have again repeated their pattern of winning a game, losing the next, and then winning their third game. LeBron James has asked his team to ignore outside noise that comes after every game, whether they win or lose. “For the young guys that haven’t been a part of the postseason or haven’t had much experience in the postseason, just stay off the TV and stay off social media,” James advised after putting up 21 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.

## AD’s hot and cold play

Anthony Davis has become the face of the Lakers’ inconsistent performance this postseason, with fans suggesting his nickname “AD” stands for “Alternate Days”. He scored 30 points and grabbed 23 rebounds in Game 1, followed by a very disappointing 11 points and seven rebounds in Game 2. Davis bounced back in Game 3, scoring 25 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Davis stated he hasn’t heard any critiques of his performances and doesn’t believe his approach has varied from game to game, even if his numbers have.

## Focus on discipline

The Lakers can control the game by playing with energy, effort, and urgency, focusing on the next challenge, as James stated, “Training your mind for the next challenge. And, ‘What’s the next challenge? This game is over with, we played well. OK, cool. But we got another on Monday.’” The Lakers’ mindset can stay steady as long as they remain disciplined. Coach Darvin Ham preached this strategy since the Lakers’ poor start where they had to scramble to make up for their 2-10 start to the season by qualifying for the play-in tournament.

## A Battle to the end

Ham has warned his team that they cannot let their guard down against the Warriors, stating “This is going to be a battle to the end.” The Lakers know that nothing is guaranteed, and the mentality of being disciplined and staying focused is key. They can control their energy and effort; shots will fall, and legs will feel fresh one game and tired the next. But the Lakers’ mindset must stay steady.

In conclusion, the Lakers’ inconsistent play has been a challenge, but the team remains optimistic and focused on their game plan. The ability to ignore outside noise, the discipline to play their game, and the mindset to stay focused have been key to the Lakers’ playoff campaign so far. They are certainly not taking anything for granted and will continue to fight till the end of the postseason.