After the trading deadline, the Lakers had already shown a new appearance. Until the season after the All-Star weekend, the Lakers showed their long-lost fangs. For example, the Lakers upgraded their ranking to 11th in the West after finishing the reversal 27 points behind the lone ranger early this morning. Who would have thought that there was such a strong team outside the Western playoff region. The Western giants, the Lakers are coming.
Everything comes from Wei Shao’s departure from the team. Although he cannot be blamed for all, it was his departure that brought long-lost strength to the Lakers. Wei Shao’s opponent in the last game of the Lakers was thunder. His old boss must not be helped by God. In the first game after the deal, the Lakers lost to the stag who was hot recently and was in 14 consecutive winning streak. But since then, everything has been different.
Take today’s 27-point reversal Lone Ranger as an example. After falling behind so many points, the Lakers chose to believe in defense until the feeling of the other side fell back. Then in the fourth quarter, they relied on the success rate of the superstar ball, so a plot twist was lost. Among them, James sprained his ankle in the third quarter and still fought with injuries, so that he limped after the game. After the game, James also said that he had never thought of returning to the dressing room at that time and just wanted to finish the game. “It is much better now.” Dong Qiqi also said with emotion after the game that it was amazing to play against such a guy.
Lakers coach Ham said after the game: “These boys have never lost confidence. Their faces showed a very hurt expression, but they never showed a very frustrated expression. Everyone wanted to show confidence.” Coach Kidd also said: “The Lakers showed us why it was not the rabbit who won the game, but the turtle. They won the game.”
Vanderbilt’s performance was amazing when defending East Chech. After the transaction, some media pointed out that the positive and negative values of the Lakers in exchange for several players this season were all negative. Some people in the Lakers fan group muttered to themselves: “It is better not to change these people.” Until the competition came, I really realized what “in Huainan is orange, in Huaibei is Zhizhi.”
Vanderbilt was famous for his outstanding defense when Timberwolves came to the fore. Although there was no improvement in the attack in the next few years, he could always get a starting seat, which meant that the problem was obvious. Malik Beasley was a pure scorer. His arrival added a three-point regular visitor to the Lakers (he averaged 9 shots in the back court and hit 3.8 goals).
Russell is a player who can play without a ball, which fills in the aspects that Wei Shao is not good at. Moreover, his arrival also makes the Lakers maintain the configuration of three All-Star players. After leaving the Lakers, he played the title on basketable nets, then played the Warriors and the Timberwolves. In the Timberwolves, he always felt a little redundant as a supplement to Downs, Gobel and Edward this season, but the Lakers are guests.
Cole commented on Russell, “Russell is very suitable for the Lakers today, because he can really shoot and pass, and other players can also help him share the defense, it will give him some chances of no ball. James will hold the ball more, so Russell will become a fixed-point pitcher or participate in blocking and dismantling. All these proved to be very suitable for him. He played very well for the Lakers.”
The Lakers only bought three players with such distinctive characteristics with one prestige, which is not a smart eye. Speaking of which, I would like to give the general manager Pelinka a big praise. Besides, the integration of these three people into the team is not a problem. Vanderbilt is the defense, Beasley is the three-point vote, he two can be described as combat capability, plug and play. There is only one Russell, but he was a Lakers player before, and integration is not a problem.
Before the three, the Lakers had other signings. The Lakers played 12 games at 8 village base, with an average score of 11 points and 5 points. With 7 rebounds, the score dropped to a new low in career, and the hit rate of joint three points was also a new low in career. The effective hit rate was also the second worst in career, but the rebound soared to the second highest in career. After playing several games, he immediately lost the starting line and gave way to the newly arrived Vanderbilt.
If the Lakers have achieved such a good result, Anthony Davis will remember one of his achievements. The average score of 25.6 points is needless to say, the key is 12.3 rebounds, and the hit rate has soared to 56.2%, and the effective hit rate is also a career high. Davis’s rebound strength was attributed to coach ham. He concentrated Davis’s main activity area under the basket and guarded the penalty area. Davis immediately gave back to the coach with his strong performance under the basket. In addition, James’s performance of 7 assists with 29.6 points and 8.4 rebounds in the side field, the hit rate of 50.3 percent, and the joy of surpassing Jabbar’s general scoring king, complement each other.
Ham had a broad heart. He had previously stated that the Lakers would win the top 6 in the Western District and directly qualify for the playoffs. These words were fresh in the ears of Lakers fans. Since NBA introduced the concept of play-offs in 2021, the Lakers have relied on play-offs to qualify for the playoffs in the 2020-21 season. They did not enter the playoffs in 2022. This year is the first time to earn the top 6 in the West, avoid the scuffle in the play-off. Whether the Lakers can get what they want is still uncertain.
Facing the grizzly bear next time, because James was injured, there was a saying of “let the game go” everywhere, but I believe that even if the Lakers want to let go of the game, the Lakers will not agree. It was with such courage and confidence that the Lakers could turn the tide to the end. In the second half of the season, they could catch up from the 13th in the West, shocking the world. (Mao Mao dad/supine support)