LeBron's jumper is off, and the Lakers are struggling on offense

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LeBron's jumper is off, and the Lakers are struggling on offense

2024-12-03 13:11 Last Updated At：13:41

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — LeBron James is in quite the shooting slump — especially from long distance.

James missed all four of his 3-point attempts for the Los Angeles Lakers in a 109-80 loss at Minnesota on Monday night, stretching his skid to 0 for 19 from deep over the last four games.

After going 4 for 16 from the floor overall with six of his team's 20 turnovers for a season-low 10 points against the Timberwolves, James was asked to reflect on the Lakers reaching the quarter mark of their 2024-25 schedule under rookie coach J.J. Redick at 12-9.

“I wouldn't say I'll take it. I would never want to say that,” James said. “It is what it is. This is our record. We’ve just got to continue to get better at both ends of the floor.”

Particularly offensively, and it's not only James, the four-time NBA MVP whose average of 22 points per game is his lowest since he was a rookie 21 years ago.

“We’re just not good offensively right now. I think we spent so much time trying to get our defense corrected that our offense took a toll and took a back seat to that,” he said.

James hasn't made a 3-pointer since he tied Kyle Korver for seventh on the league's career list (2,450) last week. His fourth attempt against the Timberwolves from behind the arc was an air ball, causing an audible gasp from the crowd at Target Center.

The long ball isn't the only shot he's struggling with. The mid-range is on his list, too.

“Just period, just everything,” James said. “Just a rhythm. I just feel off rhythm the last few games.”

How does he fix it?

“Work. Just work. That's all,” James said.

His stated goal of playing in all 82 games this season is still intact, but his recent performances have raised the question about whether such a quest would be wise.

“We are measuring the players, and we can tell if a guy is running hot or whatever,” Redick said. “He does a remarkable job of taking care of his body and getting recovery. I don’t know if that’s in the best interest of us and him if he does that, but if he’s feeling well and good then he should play.”

James said the 82-game achievement remains a goal for him in his age-40 season — his birthday is Dec. 30 — but he declined to discuss the possibility of resting.

The much bigger issue for now is getting the Lakers back on track offensively in this continued adjustment to Redick's system and a new staff. Their 80-point output at Minnesota was the team's lowest since a 122-73 loss at Dallas in 2017, according to Sportradar.

“Sometimes we look like a team that can compete with anyone, and sometimes we look like a team that is terrible and not going to do anything this season,” co-star Anthony Davis said. “We've just got to figure out what team that we want to be the rest of the season.”

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Princess of Wales joins royals as Qatari state visit to the UK starts

2024-12-04 10:13 Last Updated At：10:20

LONDON (AP) — The Princess of Wales helped kick off the emir of Qatar’s trip to Britain on Tuesday as the U.K. government enlists one of the most popular royals to ensure the success of a state visit by the leader of a key ally, even as the princess recovers from cancer treatment.

The event will be just one of a handful of appearances that Prince William’s wife, better known as Kate, has made since she was diagnosed with cancer in March, underscoring the importance of the gas-rich gulf state that invests billions in Britain and has played a central role in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.

William and Kate greeted Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani in the morning. The couples then traveled to Horse Guards Parade in central London, where King Charles III formally welcomed the emir and Sheikha Jawaher to Britain at the start of a two-day visit that will include a trip to Westminster Abbey, a banquet at Buckingham Palace and a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Queen Camilla, who pulled out of Tuesday's chilly outdoor events on medical advice, told guests at a palace lunch that she had suffered from a lingering chest infection that was a form of pneumonia, Britain's Press Association reported. She added that she no longer has pneumonia, but was suffering from post-viral fatigue.

Though smaller than the U.S. state of Connecticut, Qatar has the world’s third-largest reserves of natural gas and is a key investor in the U.K. The Qatari Investment Authority owns the luxury retailer Harrod’s and holds large stakes in British companies such as Barclays Bank and the supermarket chain Sainsbury’s. It has also invested heavily in London real estate, including the Shard, western Europe’s tallest building.

But the display of pomp being rolled out for the emir sits uneasily with human rights advocates who say women and LGBTQ+ people face discrimination in Qatar, and migrant workers still haven’t been compensated for “egregious abuses” that occurred during preparations for the 2022 soccer World Cup.

“Hosting the royal visit without addressing these issues is tantamount to royal-washing Qatar’s troubling rights record,” said Yasmine Ahmed, U.K. director of Human Rights Watch.

The state visit comes at the end of a difficult year for Britain’s royal family.

The king was sidelined for two months after it was announced in February that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. Just a few weeks later, Kate made public her own cancer diagnosis and said that she, too, would be stepping away from public duties to focus on her treatment and recovery.

While Charles returned to public duties at the end of April, Kate needed more time and her return has been slower.

The princess has made only a few public appearances this year, mostly at moments of national significance. They included the king’s annual birthday parade in June and the men’s final at Wimbledon in July. Most recently, she took part in the annual Remembrance Day ceremonies in November to honor the nation’s war dead.

The princess announced in September that she had completed chemotherapy treatment.

One reason the government and royal family may have asked Kate and William to play a major role in the Qatari state visit is because they have a lot in common with the emir.

All three are in their early 40s and were educated at elite British prep schools. The emir and William are both graduates of the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, with the emir going on to serve in the Qatari military and William serving in both the British Army and Royal Air Force.

Kate and William will join the Qatari royals and the king and queen for a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace.

After lunch at the palace, the emir and Sheikha Jawaher will visit Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.

Later in the day, the king and queen will host a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

On Wednesday, the emir will visit Sandhurst, meeting with some of his former classmates and current Qatari cadets. He will also meet with RAF personnel who are providing advanced training for Qatari air force pilots.

The emir will then travel to the prime minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street for his meeting with Starmer.

Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/royalty