Don't blame LeBron James for the Lakers' failure

This is the Morning Win. Charles Curtis is filling in for Andy Nesbitt today.

Already, everybody just pump the brakes here.

I've seen your criticism and trolling tweets - LeBron couldn't get past the first round of the NBA playoffs for the first time in his storied career, what kind of GOAT is he if he truly is the GOAT?? What's with no handshakes?

C'mon. Stop it.

The Los Angeles Lakers bowing out of the postseason after a Game 6 loss to the was far from James' fault, and there are a variety of reasons why. But let's start with the fact that the superstar who wasn't at 100 percent averaged 23.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 8 apg and 1.5 spg. Those are astounding numbers. He tried!

But let's examine some other factors here:

1. Health! James was hobbled, Anthony Davis (Charles Barkley was savage for nicknaming him "Street Clothes") was hurt during the regular season and couldn't play Game 5 and much of Game 6. That's out of your control, especially when …

2. The compressed offseason hurt. The Lakers won a title on Oct. 11 and then kicked off 2020-21 just two months later! That turned out - as everyone guessed - to be a huge problem for this team and its aging-but-ageless superstar.

3. The supporting cast struggled. Aside from Dennis Schroder, there were problems everywhere. Andre Drummond, Kyle Kuzma (17.4 percent from distance), Montrezl Harrell (who barely played), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (21.1 percent from three), Alex Caruso, Marc Gasol … it wasn't enough to help a hobbled Lakers team.

4. The Suns are actually really good. Can we give them some credit? This team is mega-deep and tough, and here's a squad that found ways to cover for an injured Chris Paul.

So let's stop all the LeBron hate. Because when next season rolls around, a rested Lakers team might be tough to beat with a full offseason.

Quick hits: Vanessa Bryant calls out Nike … Why Coach K entered to THAT song … Tyreek Hill leveled by his own teammate … and more.

- Vanessa Bryant got understandably heated in an Instagram post over "Mambacita" Kobe 6 leak.

- Wondering what the deal was with Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski entering his retirement press conference to Everytime We Touch? We explained it.

- Check out this classy exchange between Ja Morant's dad and Jazz star Donovan Mitchell.

- You will laugh at Tyreek Hill getting leveled by Orlando Brown during OTAs. Trust me.