Final: LeBron's Team 121 LeBron's Next Team 112
This was the NBA's marquée matchup of the week.
Every move and comment was being hyped to the point of absurdity, something the league has mastered to an even greater extent than the NFL.
The fact that the Los Angeles Lakers was in Cleveland to face the Cavaliers provided the perfect backdrop for it, too.
All eyes were on who was right: Adrian Wojnarowski or the tandem of Ramona Shelbourne and Brian Windhorst.
The occasion did give the Lakes and Cavs an opportunity to work a game into the intrigue.
It did its bit to add fuel to the speculative fire, as Lonzo Ball actually showed signs of being a top draft choice in the LOL LAL's 121-112 loss:
One sidebar that was understandably lost to a merciful video clipster's discretion was how Brook Lopez -- hitting 77% from the line this season -- could airball a pair from the stripe.
Perhaps his mind was still on how close he came to being posterized by James moments earlier in the second quarter:
That was the niftiest step to the left this side of Patti Smith.
James racked up another triple-double while Ball's quirky J found its mark more often than not to support his 11 assists in what was actually a decent game for the dude.
But how could those facts be the headline here? 'Way too vanilla.
So, for whatever reason, LeBron decided to draw the spotlight to a quick word with Lonzo.
Why would James decided to make a scene of what easily coulda been a quiet word in private?
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Who knows? Maybe dude's trying to be the father figure Lonzo shoulda had.
At least the oldest Ball bro had a college career before Pops figured to hell with living vicariously through his sons and grabbed serious spotlight.
Ironically, Europe's lower leagues are probably a better fit -- skills-wise -- for LeAngelo and LeMelo. Lithuania may be basketball mad, but don't judge a book by its cover. Like looking at the veneer of where they'll be staying and thinking they're at a Sandals resort or something.
At least they'll have plenty of options for getting wet and sitting around. Dudes better get used to it.
The rest of the spa looks more like a B&B:
They're signed on a game-to-game basis -- €500 each per appearance -- for a club side that's not first tier -- think junior varsity -- in a league that's done well by perfecting a playing style resembling a marriage of hoops and rugby.
Refs aren't gonna call subtle leans in the Baltic League.
So for all the scrutiny Lonzo's getting in the NBA, at least he's with the likes of Luke Walton to help him refine his game.
And he's apparently learning from LeBron James how to stoke distractive fires for fun and profit.