LeBron James makes strong Luka Doncic remark after Game 1 loss

The Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder played on Tuesday in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, but it didn't end the way LeBron James had hoped.

The Thunder, who are largely projected to win the series, towered over the Lakers in a 108-90 final score.

The Lakers are playing without star guard Luka Doncic, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, and that's making things hard, if not impossible, for the Lakers.

LeBron James sends Luka Doncic message

Following the Loss, James, who isn't the kind of player to usually make excuses, immediately brought up Doncic's absence in the team's loss.

"Where are the offensive issues coming from?" James asked after getting questioned about the loss and the team's offense, per Sports Illustrated. "We have a guy who averaged 37 a game. What did he average, 35 this year? 33 and a half? What are you asking?"

"The issue is right there. We're playing against the No. 1 defensive team in the NBA, as far as the ratings and everything," James added. "And when you play against great defenses, you have to have guys that can attract multiple defenders on the floor at all times. I feel like we got some great shots tonight, we missed them. When you play against the world champions, having a guy that averages 34-8-9, whatever the hell it is, that's special."

Doncic's presence is so important that it has NBA analysts and experts predicting an early win for the Thunder. In a May 4 piece for ESPN, the publication's expert panel of 10 unanimously picked a series win for Oklahoma City.

Doncic's absence is obviously signifigant, but if that's the reality the Lakers have to deal with during this series, it's time for them to regroup and figure out a new strategy. James, as talented as he is, can't do it alone.