Before today against the Warriors, the Lakers lost four in a row, with 1 win and 7 losses in the past 8 games. Very depressed.
In the past 16 games against teams with more than 50% winning percentage, the Lakers have only won one Jazz. Very depressed.
LeBron's physical condition is not very good.
When the Lakers lost to the Clippers the day before yesterday, they lost less defensively in the second half. Nearly 30 minutes behind in the fourth quarter, I was rather unhappy.
Previously, against Dallas, the second half offered to be replaced.
Lakers state, all at the bottom of the valley.
Speaking of which, the Lakers have rebounded from the bottom before this season. For example, before the Lakers lost to the Nuggets by 37 points — but two days after that, two days later, the Lakers were ashamed and brave, LeBron had 25 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, and led the bench to win the Jazz.
After a big loss, LeBron often poses another way.
The day before yesterday the Lakers lost to the Clippers by 21 points.
At the beginning of today, after LeBron scored the ball to the wing side Ofshao, he cut inside quickly, and did not give Wei Shao room to break through, the meaning is very clear:
You wait, I'll come first!
When pushing back against a layup, LeBron went head-to-head for a one-on-two.
Interesting detail: At this point, the Reeves were in the open space and raised their hands to pass the ball. According to LeBron's vision and habits, there will never be a vacant seat that will not pass, but he forced a layup.
LeBron could see everything, but he didn't pass the ball.
Then it was with Tucker, tough positioning, and laying on the basket.
In the first half, he scored two frontcourt rebounds and scored 4 points, what is the concept? — In leBron's 45 games last season, he scored a total of 16 points in front of him.
When the Lakers scored the 51st minute in the first half, LeBron hit Wiggins with his right back, a full 6 seconds, the Warriors also contracted and closed, LeBron did not give the outside pass, hard to chisel in one.
In the second quarter, LeBron made all his shots in the box except for the whistle-pressed three-pointer:
Bombarding the baskets, straight to the point.
In the second half of the third quarter, when he was behind 77-89, LeBron broke through the speed and could end a layup, and he directly dunked.
In fact, at that moment, he was already tired, and it was almost time for him to rotate off the field to rest. But the drums were brave and a hard shot: morale cannot be lost.
LeBron made a few three-pointers in the second half and shot extremely decisively. I didn't have any more luck to adjust the ball, and I just left. The Lakers chased points.
By the 97th draw, LeBron let Reeves empty, and began to pick a three-pointer directly to reverse the overtaking.
In fact, at that time, his physical fitness was already a little wrong. After this three-pointer, another three-point arc has been flattened, and then the only time the game has missed the penalty.
You can also rely on the defense to attack the half-court slip legs to speed up, receive Munch pass buckle hollow connection, but the position battle, really a bit rushed.
- By the way, today he played longer than the postman, second only to the sky tick.
56 points. After the age of 37, he took 50+ and he, Bryant, Crawford and Jordan.
It has little to do with the Warriors' defense, and Westbrook said after the game that when LeBron enters this state, it is difficult for opponents to influence him.
LeBron shot the season's most 31 shots and 13 free throws, as well as the season's fourth-fewest 3 assists.
The last time he shot 31 in a single game was the 51 points he scored against Miami in 2018 — and coincidentally, he only had three assists in that game.
But LeBron actually didn't lose the feeling of passing.
He finally assisted the melon in the bottom corner of the three-pointer, and when he broke through Clay, the center of gravity was larger than usual, and he stepped forward as soon as he entered the three-point line, which was farther than his usual layup distance, which was already a bit of a step.
But his previous attack was too ferocious, or enough for the Warriors to shrink and give melons a bottom corner shot.
LeBron seized it and delivered a key assist.
So anticipating the opponent's defense and grasping the passing window, LeBron is still keen.
The opening went into attack mode, and the first half bravely attacked the basket. He made a three-pointer in the second half. Melon praised LeBron's control of the rhythm of the game – he played bravely, but also proved that this rhythm can win.
It's just that it's more direct than he's ever been.
LeBron's game, there are three modes. A pure pass is not mentioned. A kind of all-encompassing improvisation, like his 51 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the first game of the 2018 Warriors Finals, and the fifth and sixth games of the 2016 Finals.
Another, like the last 25 points against the Pistons in 2007, like the Celtics' 30 points in the first half of game six against the Celtics in 2012 — he had only 2 assists in the first half that day, giving The Chalmers two three-pointers.
Attack your opponent directly, storming until you knock them down.
Today's one is more like the third kind.
— After a 37-point defeat to the Nuggets, He beat the Jazz. The Clippers took down the Warriors after 21 points.
They have all reached the bottom of the valley, and they have tried all kinds of routines.
Just put aside the posture of organizing the whole team for the time being, and don't think about the overall situation for the time being. Just use the most direct way to bombard the strong shot, force a win, how?
Straight to the point, just done!
Fifteen years ago, also in March, the Lakers lost seven in a row.
Bryant desperately tried to organize the big picture: 10 assists against the Kings, 6 assists against the Suns, 8 assists against the Timberwolves, and 9 assists against the Nuggets. void. The Lakers still see who loses.
So Kobe Bryant didn't move. Against the Blazers, Timberwolves, Grizzlies and Hornets, he combined to have just 11 assists — but scored 65, 50, 60 and 50 points, respectively.
Is it reasonable? Not very reasonable. Can I win? Yes.
It's just that for someone as sharp as Kobe Bryant, once they enter adversity, they will automatically switch to killer mode.
For a calm character like LeBron, the release of the self is much rarer — but conversely, the release is also amazing enough.
The most interesting moment of the day wasn't LeBron's last 56 points, or his assist to melon to seal the win. Instead, after he hit the 49th point, he smiled brightly.
The score has not yet opened, the overall situation has not been locked, this is just a regular season, winning this battle, can not solve all the problems of the Lakers this season.
But LeBron was happy to blossom.
After the game, he said he felt good about every part of the game.
This is simple, playing basketball is happy, right?
When Barkley was in his final season in Philadelphia, he was depressed for various reasons; Jordan shouted to him through an interview, saying that it was good to play, and the game itself was the best psychological massage.
For people like LeBron, who always remember the overall situation and adjust the overall situation, who are always thoughtful and self-controlling, the trough of internal and external difficulties, can temporarily forget the team's injuries, the results ahead, the future schedule, and simply play such a game, the release battle of "putting his will on the game" after the Westbrook game, looking at the cheering teammates and frowning opponents after scoring the goal, facing the cheering home fans... A happy release in itself, right?
After all, who loves basketball wouldn't want to throw a bunch of crap out of it and enjoy the simple pleasure of the ball crossing the basket? ——Even people who make a career in basketball will still be eager to play like this for a while.