Ingram makes eye contact with James. Ingram nods, almost imperceptibly, and James jumps into motion, seeing the opening just as clearly as Ingram is seeing it.

The Lakers had lined up their other four players on James’ right-hand side as he stood just left of the top of the key, plotting to clear the runway for James to drive to his preferred left side.

Houston defensive coordinator Jeff Bzdelik identified that and stood up from the Rockets’ bench, directly pointing for Houston center Clint Capela to take that option away. Dutifully, Capela moved over so he was standing alone in that open area, even though no Lakers player was on that side of the court for him to guard. Capela’s job was done: It would be foolhardy for James to go left all by himself and encounter one of the league’s best shot-blockers intent on double-teaming.

The Lakers were up by three with 1:39 left in what was the first game after the All-Star break, when playoff hopes still rose to tidal-wave heights. Those hopes crested even more after the Lakers reached .500 by beating the Rockets on the strength of this play and this teamwork.

Josh Hart identified how the preferred LeBron drive left was being denied, so he ran from his spot on the right side, moving across the lane toward Capela’s side. James had seen how it should unfold already, sharply waving his left arm for Hart to clear out as James shifted his dribble to his right hand. Houston’s Eric Gordon, guarding Hart, therefore trailed behind—Hart which achieved Hart’s and James’ goal of open some of the right side for a drive that direction.

Then Kuzma piggy-backed on Hart’s decision. Kuzma flared out away from James and more toward where Hart had been so that Kuzma’s man, P.J. Tucker, faced a sudden quandary: Stay there to be nearer to James, on whom Tucker’s eyes were fixated, or do the traditionally right thing and stay attached to Kuzma, whose hands were up, ready to catch and shoot, the whole time. Tucker backpedaled four steps toward Kuzma—precisely what James was awaiting.

This is when Ingram nods. This is when James is ready to go. With the shot clock ticking from six to five seconds, James drives to the right and blows by James Harden. From where he’s now standing, Tucker can only wave toward James, touching nothing but air. Capela slides from his spot to get in James’ path to the rim, as all the Lakers expected.

Now it’s Ingram’s moment: not to force up a shot, not to force anything individually, not even to move too much—but just to position himself in the specific spot so that Houston’s Chris Paul, assigned to guard Reggie Bullock, is screened off from contesting Bullock’s three-point shot on the right wing once James passes Bullock the ball.

Kuzma’s right hand reflexively goes up in excitement, even though he isn’t the one getting to take the clutch shot, at the same moment James’ jump pass reaches Bullock’s hands. That’s how excited Kuzma is that the teamwork is getting Bullock the perfect shot.

Bullock shoots; Bullock scores. And Hart’s arms jack up like goal-posts to celebrate the basket, same as those in the Staples Center crowd.

This is the kind of playoff execution and excitement the Lakers are missing out on as other teams play on. Yet it was one of many moments this season that proved they could play at the highest level. It’s why Magic Johnson said: “Everything is in place. We add one guy, and this team is in the Western Conference Finals.”

Besides talent, that theoretical one guy would have his own knowledge and experience to raise the Lakers’ level of teamwork. Make no mistake, though, just by going through this season, the guys already on the roster got to learn a lot about how to execute next to James. And who knows how much better it becomes if injuries don’t limit everyone’s time together.

James missed 27 games. Eight different players missed at least 11 games. Altogether, players missed 192 games because of injury or illness.

“It’s tough to win in this league,” said Tyson Chandler, who just finished his 18th NBA season. “It takes time to build. It takes time to put together the right pieces. I definitely think they have those pieces here. I thought so from afar when I had a chance to compete against Zo [Lonzo Ball], B.I., Kuz, Josh. And I feel even better about it being here.

“It’s a great crop, great group of young men who really understand how to play the game. Big-time potential. They’re nowhere near even scratching the surface of what they’ll be capable of.”