On January 8, Beijing time, the Lakers defeated the Hawks 134-118 at home to win four consecutive wins. LeBron James played center position again and excelled, shooting 13-of-24 from the field and 1-of-6 from three-point range, scoring 32 points, eight rebounds, nine assists, four steals and three blocks. Don't look at the old Zhan's tepid first three quarters, but he broke out in the last quarter to score 17 points. Interestingly, the Lakers have won the last 5 games in which James played center, why are the Lakers so strong when the old Zhan plays the fifth position?
With "thick eyebrows" Anthony Davis still recuperating due to injury, Lakers coach Frank Vogel can only use a small lineup more in the game, and he has tried many times to let James play in the center position, and received good results. As we all know, the small lineup pays attention to lineup mobility and projection ability, the most important thing is that multiple positions can complete single defense and change defense, James perfectly fits such a lineup collocation, and he does not feel difficult when playing center, after all, he has weight and confrontation ability, and he also has speed and projection advantages in the face of some traditional interior lines, and the work of the old Zhan defensive end will be easier than the front line with better defensive mobility.
In an interview with the media after the game, Vogel said that when talking about the effect of James playing the fifth position, he said that the players would be more comfortable playing a small lineup with James, and the same was true of Old Zhan himself. "James can now play the role of a receiver instead of a big package," Mr. Warren said. Avery Bradley, who started the game in 24 minutes and had 21 points and six rebounds on 8-of-11 shooting, said james playing in the fifth position that activated the team's vitality at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends, and the players were actively running and reaching out to interfere with opponents.
For his new positioning, James revealed some important details, he said that playing center can create more space for the team's offensive end, he can block and dismantle, can go down (empty cut) and external bullets (shooting), can end the attack when blocking and dismantling, or create offensive opportunities for himself or his teammates. 'When I was at the number five, our attack seemed fluid, so like I said, the coach understood what we needed to do in a season, what we had to do in a certain game. Old Jen said.
The Lakers have been gaining momentum lately, winning five of their last six games, and in addition to James' playing center to activate the team's energy at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends, it is also related to the gradual alignment of their team lineup. James said after the game that some teammates who had previously missed the game gradually returned, which allowed them to develop a better tacit understanding, and reflected in the game, waiting until they stabilized the lineup rotation, it will help to better establish the rhythm of the game.
After this battle, the Lakers will face the Grizzlies, who have recently won seven consecutive games, and the last time they played against the Lakers, they were unfortunately overturned.