On January 20, Beijing time, the Lakers lost 104-111 to the Pacers, who were the third-to-last in the East. In this game, the Lakers once occupied the initiative on the court.
After an 11-0 offensive run in the second quarter, the Lakers extended the point difference to 15 points. However, Sabonis Jr. and LeVert led the Pacers to rely on tenacious perseverance and worked hard to eat into the score difference. In the third quarter, the Pacers reversed the score. However, the Lakers still maintained a slight lead into the final quarter. In the 4th quarter, the Lakers slipped in form on the offensive end, and the Pacers relied on LeVert's 22-point performance in a single quarter to overtake their opponents and extend the point difference to 11 points. The Lakers have gone, and can only accept being reversed and upset.
The Pacers reversed the victory over the Lakers and achieved an upset
Sitting on the bench during the decisive victory, Wei Shao refused to be interviewed! Vogel ends with the abandonment of Warcraft! Zhan Huang supports the coach!
Wei Shao sat on the bench at the decisive moment and refused to be interviewed after the game
This game is worth commenting on a lot. Lakers backcourt superstar Russell Westbrook, played 27 minutes in the game, shooting 5-of-17, 4-of-6 from 3-point range, 4,0 free throws, 14 points, 2 boards, 3 assists and 1 steal, 4 fouls and 1 turnover. Westbrook hit the most four 3-pointers in a single game since his Lakers' career in this game.
Lakers Westbrook
However, Westbrook's shooting percentage is less than 30%, and his 2-point shooting rate is 11-of-1. In the second half, Westbrook only scored 5 points. With 3:52 left in the game, Westbrook was replaced by coach Frank Vogel. Westbrook, who has since failed to get playing time. Wei Shao, abandoned by the head coach in the decisive moment.
Westbrook, who played very badly in that game. It is worth noting that Westbrook has played only about 27 minutes in three consecutive games. With a salary of $42 million this season, Wei Shao is the no. 1 highest salary in the Purple Army team. However, Westbrook has not integrated well into the team this season. Rumors that Wei Shao was traded were also frequently circulated. As the NBA's 3 doubles king, Wei Shao's performance in the Lakers is not ideal, which directly leads to the Lakers' record far less than expected.
Westbrook
Wei Shao, who also declined the interview after today's game. Presumably, Wei Shao was also extremely dissatisfied with his current state. And with Anthony Davis continuing to miss out due to injury, Westbrook still needs to do his best to assist James. After all, in the Lakers team with many veterans, only Westbrook can share the pressure for James in the offensive end, rebounding protection and tandem team 3 aspects.
Lakers Vogel abandoned Howard in the last quarter
In that game, the Lakers fell at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends in the final quarter. The Lakers, who scored 35 points against their opponents, scored only 24 points in the 4th quarter. The collapse in the last quarter is the main reason for the Lakers' reversal of this battle. In this campaign, the Lakers trailed their opponents in their interior scores 46-62, and rebounded behind 40-48.
In this game, pacers interior big player Sabonis Jr. performed well. Sabonis Jr., in 35 minutes of playing time, shot 9 of 12, 2 of 2 three-pointers, 2,0 free throws, and got 20 points, 12 boards, 10 assists and 1 block of the big three-four stats, only 1 turnover. Sabonis Jr. shoots 75 percent from the field and 100 percent from three-point range. Sabonis Jr., who ranked second in the team in scoring, rebounding and 2 statistics, is also the assist king of this campaign. Sabonis Jr. can be said to be giving and taking on the offensive end. Moreover, Sabonis Jr. played extremely efficiently, with a plus-minus of the second highest on the team. Sabonis Jr. played a perfect performance.
Little Sabonis snapped
Pacers backcourt big man LeVert, with a super high shooting percentage of 75%, bombed 30 points, 8 boards and 2 assists. Le Vere and Sabonis Jr. teamed up to contribute 29 of the 35 points (Le Vere 22 points, Sabonis Jr. 7 points) in the final quarter, dominating the trend of the game.
Little Sabonis with Le Vere
And the Lakers, which focus on a small lineup, simply can't limit Sabonis Jr. at all. Veterans James and Anthony played the No. 4 and No. 5 positions most of the time, and could not compete with the 2.11-meter-tall Sabonis Jr. The Lakers were suppressed by their opponents at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends of the final quarter. Lakers head coach Frank Vogel abandoned the interior defensive gate Dwight Howard in the fourth quarter. Warcraft Howard, who only got 13 minutes of playing time in the first three quarters, he got 5 points, 7 boards, 1 assist and 2 blocks. Vogel, who was obsessed with small lineups, although he promoted Howard to the starting lineup, did not reuse Howard.
Howard, who failed to get any playing time in the final quarter. Howard is the purple and gold team's best candidate to defend Sabonis Jr. besides Anthony Davis. At the same time, Howard was also able to interfere well with Le Vere's impact on the interior. Howard, without a doubt, is the patron saint of the Lakers' penalty area, and the team's last line of defense.
James with Dwight Howard
The abandonment of Howard in the last quarter was a defeat for Vogel. However, it has become the norm for Howard not to be reused by Vogel this season. The Lakers are currently down to No. 8 in the West, and Vogel needs to take on some responsibility.
James stood up for the coaching staff
However, LeBron James, the lakers' star, supported the coaching staff after the game. Speaking about the Lakers coaching staff, James was very determined, James said, "The coaching staff has been great, they put us in a position to succeed, we have to do our part, there is nothing wrong with that." ”
James said, "I don't think we played badly tonight. I think it was only in the fourth quarter that the other side got into a fiery state and disrupted our game plan. ”
James with head coach Frank Vogel
It seems that James is supporting and supporting the coaching staff. In the game, James hit 30 points, 12 boards, 5 assists and 2 steals with a 50% shooting rate. Even if James cut the big double-double stats, he could not lead the team to win.