Why the Lakers’ signature three-point celebration isn’t what you think

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Lakers guard Dennis Schroder strikes the “freeze” pose in front of the Timberwolves bench after making a go-ahead three-point shot. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Dennis Schroder Jr., the 4-year-old son of the Lakers’ guard, entered the team’s locker room in Los Angeles not long after his father’s team defeated the defending champion Golden State Warriors.

“Junior,” LeBron James said from his stall, and soon the boy was dapping up James and Anthony Davis.

It was a special moment for Schroder, a player who re-signed with the Lakers on a minimum contract because, in part, of unfinished business from the Lakers’ failed title defense in 2021. Now his oldest child was sharing smiles with two future Hall-of-Fame players, including the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

“You don’t take that for granted,” Schroder later told The Times.

Before Junior left the room, there was one last thing to do, one more moment to cement that these Lakers were together in lockstep in ways that were unimaginable earlier in the season.

“Hit the freeze,” Schroder told his son.

Lakers guard Austin Reaves celebrates after making a three-point shot against the Warriors with the “freeze” pose. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

And without hesitation, the 4-year-old extended one arm, palm in the air, while he pointed at his bicep and nailed the unofficial celebration of the Lakers’ turnaround to huge laughter from James and Davis.

It’s moments like this, the Lakers’ chemistry on full display, that have the team optimistic their 2-0 deficit to Denver in the Western Conference finals is a mountain they can overcome beginning with Game 3 on Saturday.

“All the good teams that you see, it seems like they have something, right?” Davis told The Times in between Games 1 and 2 in Denver. “…It just shows the togetherness of our team and how together we are a group.”

The first thing you need to know about the Lakers’ three-point celebration is that it’s not what you think.

When D’Angelo Russell pointed at his left forearm after scoring 39 points in 2016, he mouthed the words “ice in my veins.” So when the team…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/freeze-why-lakers-signature-three-213526331.html?src=rss

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2023-05-19 21:35:26

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