On January 20, Beijing time, the Lakers were reversed by the Pacers at home with a 104-111 upset. In this game, James played a very good performance. Anthony, on the other hand, made a comeback and was in good shape. Westbrook, on the other hand, did not play well.
Anthony and James
James, who contributed 30 points, 12 boards, 5 assists and 2 steals. Anthony, on the other hand, hit 50 percent of the field and scored 14 points, 7 boards, 1 assist and 2 blocks. Westbrook, shooting 5-of-17 and 4-of-6 from 3-point range, had 14 points, 2 boards, 3 assists and 1 steal. As the Lakers' big 3, James and Anthony still continue to be in good competitive shape. Wei Shao, on the other hand, continued to be sluggish.
At one point, 15 points ahead of their opponents, the Lakers collapsed in the final quarter. In the fourth quarter, Le Vere scored 22 points, Sabonis Jr. contributed seven, and the Pacers blasted a 35-24 single-quarter score to turn the tide. The Lakers, who are determined to win the championship, can only drink and accept being reversed and upset.
The Pacers reversed the Lakers and completed the upset
Zhan Huang 1 move caused controversy! The famous mouth angrily criticized Anthony! The reason for the abandonment of the decisive moment was exposed!
Zhan Huang 1's move caused controversy
In that game, With just one minute left in the final game, Le Ver played a single game to help the Pacers extend the point difference to 11 points to seal the win. Tucker then scored a single shot, and the Pacers stopped shooting and opted for 24 seconds of offensive time. After Indiana made a 24-second foul mistake, James slammed into the basket with 8 seconds left in the game and scored a quick layup within 3 seconds of the Pacers' undefended condition. The match was over, and the score was fixed at 111-104.
Lakers LeBron James
James' last-minute layup sparked a heated discussion. Many media and fans believe that James should not continue to brush points without suspense in the game. Because the Pacers have actively chosen to abandon the offense in the first 1 round. According to the convention of NBA games, the losing side should also run out of time and stop attacking. James's approach is seen as a manifestation of being less generous and too eager to brush up on data.
And some people think that James's actions are harmless. After all, the suspense of victory and defeat has been divided. James' last-minute layups did not affect the final trend of the game.
The famous mouth angrily criticized Anthony
Shannon Sharpe, a well-known commentator who is regarded as an NBA celebrity, commented on the game on social media. Sharpe said: "What is melon doing in TM? He wanted Vogel to be fired. He messed up 5 defensive rounds in a row. ”
The famous mouth angrily criticized Cameron Antony
Sharpe went on to post: "LeVert gave and asked in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers didn't choose to pack or force him to pass. He almost led the Lakers 22-24 alone in the fourth quarter, which is a shame..."
In fact, Lakers head coach Frank Vogel abandoned interior gate Dwight Howard in the final quarter. James and Anthony, on the other hand, made cameo appearances inside. Under-height, Anthony had a hard time interfering with Le Vere's impact on the interior. In addition, Anthony is about to turn 38. Moreover, Anthony joined the Lakers with a basic salary of 2.64 million yuan for 1 year. Anthony has already played the role of a substitute scorer in the team.
Anthony defends on the inside
In addition, Anthony is already doing his best on the defensive end. Anthony has missed several games due to a back injury, and this game is only his first game after returning from injury. Although he was unable to do it defensively, Anthony had already given it to him. It wasn't Anthony's fault that the interior line was blown up by the Pacers. Anthony's performance in this game should not be blamed. Vogel's obsession with small lineups should be taken seriously.
The reason for the abandonment of the decisive moment of Wei Shao was exposed
Lakers backcourt superstar Russell Westbrook was replaced by head coach Frank Vogel at the last 3:52 of the final quarter. The decisive moment was abandoned, leaving Wei Shao to sit on the bench and watch the Purple and Gold Legion being reversed.
After the game, Wei Shao also refused to be interviewed, and Wei Shao's performance also triggered a heated discussion among fans. According to Lakers reporter Dave McMenamin, the reason for prompting the coaching staff to let Wei Shao sit on the bench was that with more than 7 minutes left in the game, Le Weil completed an easy layup in the face of Wei Shao's defense.
Reports on why Westbrook was replaced at the decisive moment
According to reports, the Lakers coaching staff has repeatedly stressed the need to pay attention to the key points of LeVille's right-hand breakthrough, but Westbrook still has not adjusted his defensive angle.
Specific reports of the abandonment of the Moment of Victory by Wei Shao
Objectively speaking, Wei Shao's defensive habits are not good. Wei Shao also struggled on the offensive end. In the nine games he has played for the Lakers since 2022, Westbrook shot 32 percent from the field and 25 percent from three-point range. Under the background of the decline in athletic ability, Wei Shao's long-range shooting ability is insufficient, there are too many mistakes, and the shortcomings of the defensive end that are easy to lose position are becoming more and more obvious.
Wei Shao, also constantly caught up in trading rumors. However, Wei Shao's large contract and big package of play make it difficult to be traded. When Westbrook and James were on the court at the same time, the Lakers lacked offensive space. In the case of the Lakers' long-range shooting efficiency fluctuating greatly this season, the Lakers urgently need to improve their three-point shooting ability and defensive ability.
Lakers James, Anthony, Westbrook and Thick Brow
And Anthony Davis's return from injury may be a life-saving straw to alleviate the Lakers' plight. If the Lakers can't achieve a strong rebound after the return of the thick eyebrow brother injury. Then, this season, the Lakers may be left behind in the process of competing for a playoff spot. The Lakers will also have a hard time impacting the championship. The entire Lakers team, including the coaching staff and players, need to help Westbrook better integrate into the team system.