And last night LeBron and A D went back to work, combining for 21 points in yesterday's preseason win over The Sun's perk.

Back here with us.

Uh, Stephen A.

Starting with you.

Will you be worried, though, if the Lakers get off to a slow start?

Not at all.

Not even a little bit.

A matter of fact, I, you know, I expect them to.

I wouldn't mind if they do.

I have no problem whatsoever.

When we talk about load management is is much as I have been profoundly against that over the years.

Um, it's with the exception is LeBron James.

If LeBron James for any reason said, you know what, I don't want to start playing till January as a league, we should stand up and support him seriously.

I mean, with the work that this man has put in, it doesn't bother me at all, and so I know he's not gonna do that.

That's why he showed up there last night.

He's gonna be ready for opening night, at least to some capacity, but I think that if the Lakers do start if I'm not concerned at all, because not only are they great, they're experienced.

So when you look at LeBron James, I think that this is one of the rare breeds that is graduated to the point where he doesn't even need to be questioned about anything that's taking place in the regular season.

Everything about him should be measured by postseason play.

If this guy decides to step, take his foot off the gas.

If he decides when the amp it up, whatever the case may be.

You defer to his judgment when you've been to 10 MBA Finals when you've won four championships and when we just finished experience the global pandemic, uh, the likes of which we hadn't seen for a century and somehow some way when we consider the collapse that we witnessed with the Los Angeles Clippers because of them being devoid of leadership and what have you.

Although it was nice to see Koala and Jimmy Kimmel last night, bottom line is that LeBron James and Lakers didn't have that problem.

And so I don't think there's anything to be worried about with the Lakers a slow starter, Anything like that because they have the greatness of Anthony Davis, who's one of the top three players in the world.

And they have the best player in the world who is the best leader in basketball, and that man is LeBron James.

I don't think there's anything to be concerned about.

I don't know what's happening today, but for the second straight segment, I don't know what.

Maybe I have a fever or something.

I don't know.

I'm coming down with something.

I agree with Stephen A.

I agree, maybe for slightly different reasons, but right on I'm not.

I'm not worried about the Lakers.

Slow start it all.

Stephen A.

Let's be honest.

The LeBron James teams of the past have often started slow right.

Miami had a slow start at 11 year.

Cleveland had some slow starts because LeBron's figuring out, How do I get this group to the promised Land?

And in the meantime, he's 100 years old.

He has more miles than anyone on his legs and he has to pace himself now.

Last year, Anthony Davis came on first take and told us he challenged LeBron to set the tone on defense.

I think a D was probably right last year, Like with a new group of guys in the superstar combination.

It's important for your best player to set that tone.

And for a lot of the season, LeBron did play better regular season defense than he had in years.

But given his age and his mileage, it's, I think, not responsible even to expect him to play defense, for example, all regular season and sometimes the other guys on the team.

Even if a d setting that example slack off a little bit, too, when their leader doesn't do it.

Although Montrezl Harrell play some defense, them other guys will, too.

The point is, LeBron knows how to pace himself and knows his body.

How do I get to be in the playoffs, where and when I need to put the pedal to the metal.

I still got something in the tank.

He's usually done that in the past.

This past season he basically kept the pedal to the metal all year, but I wouldn't even recommend that he does that again.

He signed up for multiple years.

He needs to pace himself, so he's ready to go when they need him.

Most And if the Lakers get off to a slow start, while LeBron's figuring it all out, no big deal, because when the lights are brightest, he'll show up.

Well, I'm not worried about the Lakers at all.

Matter of fact, the only thing I'm worried about is the Lakers coming out and dominating the league, because when you look at this roster, in my opinion, this is the best roster on paper that LeBron James has had in the last four years and no disrespect to last year's championship championship team.

But when you look at the additions that Rob Pelinka made, I'm looking at this and and LeBron can pace himself.

He can't take games off, do load management because they have weapons.

They have guys that could come in and up and get the job done and deliver and great fashion.

And when I say that, I'm looking at a guy like Dennis Schroder who's capable in the regular season, especially for uh is capable of going for 30 plus tonight you got mud Tres Herald, another guy that's capable of giving you 20 at night.

If LeBron just decides not to play that night and then you have Anthony Davis along with West Matthews, along with Marc Gasol, along with tailing Harden Tucker, who keeps thriving, and even Kyle Kuzma.

Although I disagree with his style of play at times.

Although I disagree with Kyle Kuzma at times on how he plays the game of basketball, one thing about it when he gets hot, he gets hot.

So with the Lakers roster job well done by Rob Pelinka I'm worried about them coming out dominating too early.

I'm sorry, Max.

You know, I was gonna I'm sorry, Max.

I thought, you know I'm not working, E.

I mean, I'm not worried about Stephen a Max Stephen a Stephen and Max.

That's how it be.

Sometimes you get quiet when big perk.

Come on.

You're speaking the gospel.

You get caught up in my mind what I'd be saying and loving.

I'm delivering this good gospel, and sometimes you just gotta fall back and listen.

Yeah, that's what you know better.

First of all, you know better.

Secondly, respect your elders.

Thirdly, and more importantly, that is factually incorrect.

Kendrick Perkins.

I mean, the fact of the matter is you do drop a lot of science, and I love you to death.

But there are some things that you say.

Sometimes I'll be wondering about you, bro.

I've been wondering about you sometimes, not Nomo's not, But sometimes, yes, I feel sorry for your loss.

I feel sorry for your loss because you're not being open minded when I tell you things.

I'm just trying to teach you.

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