LeBron James drops NSFW message ahead of Game 1 vs. Rockets

LOS ANGELES – Coming into Game 1 of their opening round series of the NBA playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers know they need to rebound well in order to have a chance at winning. Lakers head coach JJ Redick stressed boxing out as one of two key areas the team needs to focus on to win the series. And following Lakers’ practice on Thursday, LeBron James was direct when asked what the rebounding message is to the team.

“The message is get your a** in there, box out and rebound,” James said. “You don’t need to have a message, we’re all grown men, do your job.”

Coming into the playoffs, the Rockets are the number one rebounding team in the league at 48.1 per game while the Lakers are 27th in the league at 41.0. The Rockets employ one of the biggest lineups in the NBA with Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. The Lakers are without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves who have been good rebounders this season.

But LeBron James doesn’t believe the Lakers need additional messaging when it comes to keeping the Rockets off the glass. It’s a do or do not situation.

“I don’t have a message. Their they best rebounding team in the last 25 years. What do you mean? You don’t need to have a message,” James said.

The message comes in the form of preparation which what the Lakers have been addressing this entire week. During the team’s first practice session on Tuesday, Redick put the team through an old-school boxing out drill.

That energy has carried over to the rest of the week, and James has been encouraged by what he’s seen in practice the last couple of days.

“We got to be locked in. We had some really good days over the last couple of days,” James said. “We still have another one tomorrow, and then a little bit of time on Saturday to prepare for Game 1. But it’s the postseason, it’s what you expect … it’s competitive basketball. So anytime you’re any to be in meaningful games, it definitely means a lot more for sure.”

James is on the verge of tying Utah Jazz Hall of Famers John Stockton and Karl Malone for the most playoff appearances in NBA history with 19, as per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. But for him, there isn’t anything that changes as far as his approach to the postseason.

“Nothing changes for me from the regular season to the postseason besides just even more heightened focus,” James said. “But as far as my preparation, that doesn’t change.”

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