On January 3, Beijing time, the Lakers narrowly defeated the Timberwolves 108-105 and won a wave of 2 consecutive wins. However, this battle can only be said to be a crushing victory. The team's fatal flaws were ruthlessly exposed in the final moments. James' sudden stealth at a critical moment and a cliff-like decline in offensive state undoubtedly laid a muffled mine for the lakers' future.
In the face of the lack of downs and Russell two absolute core Timberwolves, no one would have thought that the Lakers would actually play so hard, and the Lakers did not pass the thrill until the last moment. After careful study, I was shocked to find that all this seemed to be James dragging the Lakers' "hind legs".
Throughout the fourth quarter, James scored four points on just one mid-range shot and two free throws, plus two rebounds and one assist. At a time when the team needed him most to stand up and respond to opponents, James's form was rapidly declining, and the offensive end was like stealth. If it weren't for Anthony's 3+1 in the final moments and Bradley's super difficult backhand shot, the Lakers would have a great chance of capsizing in the gutter today.
Looking at the whole field, James's performance is actually not bad, especially in the first three quarters of the game, James can be said to be the first person in the league before, and the 22-point data is not dazzling but definitely not bad. But why did he almost become a sinner at the last moment? Don't forget, James is already a 38-year-old "old" old man.
In the last 5 games, James has averaged 37.2 minutes per game, and in such a high-intensity and dense schedule, such a long playing time is undoubtedly a powerful test for James. Facing the Rockets' vacuous and defensively ineffective team, James may be able to remain efficient in the final moments. But when faced with a team with a dog skin plaster defensive intensity like Beverley, it is difficult for James to have the strength to pose a great threat to the opponent in the end.
James has averaged 37 minutes per game this season and can cut 28.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 assists, shooting 52.3% from the field and 37.4% from three-point range. Although it does not highlight anything from the data point of view, but this game is the best illustration, but when James faces a strong defense, he will no longer play the kind of bulldozer-like passion he once had, but has become the object of the opponent's attention, to some extent, James in this state is the potential crisis of the Lakers.
The Lakers have put together a wave of thirty -odd "old men" this season, seemingly star-studded, but so far it has only 19 wins and 19 losses, ranking 7th in the West. Coach Vogel is still trying various lineup combinations this season, and has not been able to make the most powerful adjustments to the target, but the dependence on James is getting heavier and heavier, but after today's exposure, the Lakers' fatal shortcomings have been exposed, the schedule is long, how long can James hold out? So the Lakers really need to consider the most effective use of the "thirties" to create the most powerful lineup system.
(Text/shitou)