On December 22, Beijing time, the Lakers and the Suns ushered in a bitter battle. In this campaign, the Suns aim to consolidate the top position in the league. The Lakers, who suffered two consecutive defeats, hope to achieve a strong rebound at home.
Lakers vs Suns
This game can be described as a lot of twists and turns. James fired widely in the first quarter to help the Lakers hold a double-digit lead. The Suns, under Paul's leadership, played team basketball. The inside and outside connections between the two giants of Ayton and Booker also activated the Suns' offensive system.
The Lakers, on the other hand, relied on the personal abilities of James, Anthony and Westbrook to maneuver with their opponents. Both sides in the first half, tightly gripping the score. In the second half, the Suns extended the point difference to 13 points after a 13-2 offensive wave. James, Westbrook and Anthony teamed up to contribute eight points to help the Purple and Gold Army tightly clamp down on the scoreline. After that, Anthony suffered his second technical foul of the game and was expelled. Anthony's appearance became a turning point in the game.
Cameron Antony was expelled
The Suns, in the absence of a major general in the Lakers, continued to chase and fight fiercely. The Lakers, unable to limit Ayton and McGee in the penalty area, can not hit long-range shots on the outside, and can only rely on the personal ability of James and Westbrook to chase points. In the last quarter, the Suns became more and more courageous. The Suns, which blossomed inside and outside, achieved a 7-man scoring double, and the Lakers' outside line was constrained by height, both in the offensive end can not give a response, but also in the defensive end of the frustration.
The Lakers, who lost both inside and outside the line, once trailed the Suns by as many as 22 points, and there was not much time left, and the Purple and Gold Army could not form a continuous and effective offensive and could only accept the rout. The Suns beat the Lakers 108-90.
The Sun beats the Lakers
Zhan Huang 34 +7, after the game to support Anthony! Wei Shao won the championship! Lakers 2 will set a record for shame!
Lakers star LeBron James, in this game, blasted 34 points, 7 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals. James, who scored the highest scores from both teams, achieved full firepower on the offensive end. However, facing the Suns' seven-man score in double figures, James was clearly unable to beat four hands with two fists.
Lakers James
James, after the game to support teammate Cameron Anthony who was expelled in this game. James, in an interview, said, "He (Cameron Anthony) had a legitimate reason, but if you look at the replay, you will find that he was hit in the ribs when he shot, and the referee did not blow ..."
James stood up for Anthony in a post-game interview
Anthony, in the first half of the game, suffered his first technical foul for complaining about the penalty and arguing with Jackraude. And in the middle of the third quarter, Anthony again suffered a technical foul. Anthony, who had accumulated 2 technical fouls, was deported. Anthony, before being sent off, had seven points, four boards, one assist and one block. Anthony's end put James under more pressure.
James and Anthony
With Anthony Davis sidelined due to injury, Dwight Howard sidelined, Jordan Jr. playing poorly, and Anthony being sent off, James played extremely both ends of the offensive and defensive ends of the interior. James, who had to play an interior role for most of the game. James fought with the opponent's two major interior lines, Ayton and McGee, and his physical strength was greatly depleted.
Lakers backcourt superstar Russell Westbrook has scored a comprehensive stat of 22 points, 10 boards, 5 assists and 2 steals in this campaign. However, Wei Shao also had the most 7 mistakes in the game. Westbrook shared the pressure on James on the offensive end, rebounding protection, and tandem teams. However, Westbrook needs to play more reasonably and make as few mistakes as possible.
Lakers star Westbrook
After the game, Wei Shao was also interviewed. Westbrook said, "All we have to do is keep a low profile and focus on a common goal, which is to win the championship..."
Wei Shao was interviewed
Wei Shao is the NBA triple-double king. This season, Westbrook averaged 20 points, 8 boards, 8 assists and 1 steal per game, shooting 46% from the field and 30% from three-point range. Wei Shao, there has been a certain decline in the data around James. Westbrook, who failed to win the NBA championship in his career, will become James's right-hand man in the championship. The Lakers are still not in order. Regarded as the favourites to win the championship, the Purple and Gold Legion has a very luxurious lineup. Wei Shao's bold words to win the championship are also very confident.
The Lakers' two big players, DeAndre Jordan and Horton Tucker, performed badly in this game. Jordan Jr. and Tucker also set a record of humiliation in this battle.
In this game, Lakers starting center Jordan Jr. played 15 minutes, 1 of 0, 2 of 2 free throws, scored 1 point, 8 boards and 1 steal, plus or minus of the lowest -26 in the game.
Jordan Jr. set a record for shame
According to statistic stating that played less than or equal to 15 minutes, Jordan Jr. had a plus-minus of -26, the second lowest since the Lakers since 2000. Jordan Jr.'s total plus-minus of -92 this season is the second lowest of any player in the league who has played at least 350 minutes or more. ”
Jordan Jr., in this campaign, can not limit Ayton and McGee's efficient scoring. Ayton, on 9-of-11 shooting, cut two-doubles for 19 points, 11 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals, while McGee had two double-doubles of 10 points, 10 boards and 1 block on 5-of-7 shooting. Jordan Jr., on both ends of the offensive and defensive ends, was blown up by opposing interior players.
Lakers starting guard Horton Tucker scored 31 minutes, shooting 1-of-13, 8-of-0 3-pointers, 1-of-2 from the free throw line, and had 3 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist. Statistics show that Tucker has tied the worst record for a single player in Lakers history with 8-of-8 three-pointers.
Horton Tucker set a record for shame
In this campaign, Tucker's plus-minus was the second lowest -18 in the game. Tucker was also hoisted by opposing Suns guard Dwon Booker. In this campaign, Booker scored an all-round statistic of 24 points, 9 boards, 7 assists and 1 steal with a super high shooting rate of 50%. Booker, who also shot 55 percent from the field, scored the game's most six 3-pointers. On both ends of the offensive and defensive ends, Tucker failed to restrain Booker.
Jordan Jr.'s sluggish performances with Booker are a microcosm of the Lakers' rout in this campaign. The Lakers lost both the inside and outside lines, and the fiasco was justified.