What did LeBron James mean by cryptic “off the floor issues” plaguing Lakers offense?

LeBron
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 15: LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks to the media during 2020 NBA All-Star – Practice & Media Day at Wintrust Arena on February 15, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

After the Lakers’ loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, LeBron James was asked about the Lakers offense and if the bubble had anything to do with their struggles. Joe Vardon of The Athletic detailed this answer from LeBron with the following:

LeBron gave a weird answer about this. He agreed that he and the Lakers were looking for a rhythm on offense. And then he said: “It’s just some things that you can’t control that’s here, that I really don’t want to talk about, that’s off the floor.” What did he mean? The food? The fishing? Tee times not abundant enough? I wrote down on a piece of paper what I thought he meant and showed it to him, and his answer was “Hell, nah.” So, whatever. It was an interesting thing to hear and there is obviously something on LeBron’s mind beyond Davis and his other teammates bending the rim with the bricks they’re throwing up there.

So what was LeBron talking about? I have some theories…

Dion Waiters accidentally let some of his edibles get mixed in with the other snacks

We all know the story of how Dion Waiters’ Miami Heat run ended. The man ate some marijuana-laced edibles and, well, became a little freaked out as he may have eaten too many while flying on a plane. We’ve all been there.

We also know that the NBA is too busy testing for COVID-19 in the bubble to conduct their normal, randomized drug tests. So did Waiters bring his edibles on the plane to Orlando to allow him to chill out after stressful games? Maybe he did, and maybe those edibles were accidentally mixed in with the rest of the Lakers snacks. This would explain the “sluggish” start to the seeding games that we’ve seen, as the Lakers are 2-2 so far coming off the beat down from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Where’s there’s smoke, there’s someone that’s high.

Rob Pelinka is keeping the team awake with mandatory readings of The Alchemist

Back when the Lakers had just attained LeBron James and they were still riding with the young guys, many clowned on Rob Pelinka for his obscure press conferences. Who could forget the time that he compared Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s signing to “bread coming down from heaven” for the Israelites in the bible.

He also read from ‘The Alchemist’ in a press conference following the signing of LeBron James, creating the amazing photo below. LeBron James had famously been reading the book in the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals, with Pelinka deciding to read from it based off a recommendation from the late Kobe Bryant as well.

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka reads a passage from “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho as talks about the acquisition of LeBron James and other free agents at a news conference at the NBA basketball team’s headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) ORG XMIT: CARS301

What if reports come out that the Lakers’ GM is making the Lakers hear him recite a passage from the book each night? LeBron may have been in support at first, but now the Lakers can’t get any damn sleep.

The Lakers’ chemistry has been ruined by the Madden tournament that they are playing

Many of the Lakers brought their video games to the bubble, most notably highlighted by JaVale McGee who was streaming himself playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare frequently during the quarantine. The fellas have even picked up a Lakers-only Madden tournament, with Dion Waiters leading the team.

Maybe after Waiters accidentally got the team high as hell, the rest of the Lakers grew increasingly resentful of him beating them down, causing the Lakers’ incredible chemistry to splinter. 

LeBron James is upset that Kostas Antetokounmpo has been with the Lakers for over a year and they still haven’t signed Giannis Antetokounmpo

Look. I’ll back LeBron up here. It’s preposterous that the Lakers have had an Antetokounmpo on their team for THIRTEEN MONTHS NOW and they still don’t have Giannis. Why did we sign Kostas in the first place???

Maybe LeBron is sick of Rob Pelinka’s ineptitude when it comes to luring Giannis to the Lakers. I know I’m pissed.

Dwight Howard won’t stop telling the Lakers about how “Stevie Wonder isn’t actually blind”

A week or so ago, Dwight Howard revealed on his Instagram that he wouldn’t get the COVID-19 vaccination because he doesn’t believe in vaccinations.

This is enough to piss off any person with common sense, but I’m hearing (fake) reports that LeBron James and the Lakers finally had enough when Dwight Howard broke up one of their film sessions to bring up videos about how Stevie Wonder isn’t blind.

You can find articles that make anti-vaxxers seem smart, but STEVIE WONDER CAN SEE? Come on, Dwight. (Editor’s Note: Stevie definitely ain’t blind but please get vaccines for you and your children.)

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