Today the Lakers gram Raptors. LeBron scored 36 points and delivered his 57th cap of the season in overtime.
He has 57 hats in 52 games this season, a career-high average of 1.1 caps per game.
But today the protagonist is not him.
Westbrook played his best match of the season.
A triple-double of 22 points is not to be discussed. It's not a big deal to tie the season's highest four three-pointers in a single game.
The essence is all in the last minute.
Originally, before the final attack in regular time, it was Scotty Barnes's career masterpiece. Anunoby is not there, the Raptors let him attack today, and Barnes is indeed invincible. In the last 3 minutes of the game, break through the layup, break through the throw, focus on Trent, and play with LeBron. By the time Trent scored from a distance and LeBron and Westbrook conceded three points in succession, the Raptors had a three-point lead and had the ball. Barnes serves from the sideline.
Coach Vogel's arrangement is: the Raptors serve to the middle of the road, the Lakers will foul; the serve to the sideline, the Lakers on the pinch.
Barnes served to the sideline.
LeBron and Gabriel sandwiched, Barnes received a pass, and Westbrook broke the ball.
Advancing, right wing, facing defense, Westbrook shot a three-pointer.
- This three-point shot seems to be the most reckless moment of the game. The defense is sticking to it, and Gabriel on the left flank is in the open position.
- Say he's reckless, but there's one detail that's clever: Before Westbrook shoots a three-pointer, his right foot retracts and doesn't let himself step on the line. After all, the tragedy of three-point shooting into two-pointers, Nets fans understand.
Shot three points, so Wei Shao this one offensive and defensive round, instantly sealed the god.
Knock out the Raptors' serve again and drag it into overtime.
In overtime, Westbrook looked for LeBron to break through, found the bottom corner Bradley, three-pointers, 125-123 rebound.
Next, Reeves copied Barnes's ball, but the key to the ball was actually Westbrook's replacement, which was destroyed once first; and Bradley quickly stuck the position when Westbrook made up the position, and did not let Barnes find the ball space.
Wei Shao's reckless three-point shooting was a turning point in the game, but the Lakers won the game by relying on defense.
Defensive coordination, defensive details, defensive toughness.
Westbrook's three-pointer today was brilliant, but his best performance was actually the positive substitutions on the defensive end.
The lakers' collective operation before and after the make-up did not collapse in the countertrend, and this mood is more interesting than winning a game itself.
Barnes is today the third rookie of the century to have 30 points, 15 rebounds and five assists — the last one was Griffin eleven years ago, and the last one was LeBron.
For him today, it's also a bittersweet: Anunoby is not there, so he has the ball, and the rookie year plays such a spectacular performance. But in the end, he was too young to let Wei Shao copy it.
And, today I don't know how many times it was proved: Coach Nas's defensive system is easy to overhelp, and Anunoby,This single-defense wire ball rotation is not in the golden oil, and it is easy to leave flaws.
The most gorgeous data today is the showdown between LeBron and Barnes' all-around swing man.
The decisive victory at the crucial moment is Wei Shao's bloody reversal.
But the biggest unsung hero, I think, is Gabriel of the Lakers.
He quietly took advantage of the Raptors' vacancy today, scoring 17-of-8 from the field in 25 minutes.
He and LeBron completed a beautiful side-line strike before Westbrook broke the ball from Barnes.
You look back and notice that when Wei Shaoqiang shot three-pointers, Gabriel had actually stopped at the left wing to the open space of the three-point line; when he saw Wei Shao shoot three points, he only cut inside to prevent a rebound in the front court after the shot was lost.
In extra time, LeBron and Westbrook had withdrawn to assist in the defense, and he was responsible for the single defense opposite the arrow on the perimeter. The moment Westbrook and Reeves pinch Barnes, he immediately recovers the protection and then immediately rotates back to position.
The final big picture of the game was timed, Van Vleet made a layup and he completed the cover to lock the game.
The Lakers gave two hats in overtime, one leBron gave and one Gabriel gave.
LeBron carried the whole field. Westbrook exploded the spark to reverse the game.
And what Gabriel provided from beginning to end is what the Lakers are most in short supply this season.
Look at the opposite Raptors, Siakam, Boucher, Barnes, Banton, Birch, all around 206 cm, can swing with three positions; Anunoby is one of the most comprehensive defenders in the league, and Thaddeus Young is the old swing forward representative.
We all know that the swing front is popular in the league, and the Lakers are a group of less than two meters of backcourt this season, a few long men.
The swinging body is 37-year-old LeBron, the near-37-year-old melon and the 36-year-old Ariza.
Then there's Gabriel.
Lead defense, change defense, empty three-pointers, rebounding in the frontcourt, presence when there is no ball, maintaining forward strength against a group of swinging forwards of the Raptors, and positive bloody performance throughout the game. Add to every decisive moment.
This is Gabriel today.
Westbrook's first three assists today were all for Gabriel.
Wei Shao: When I glanced at a No. 35 long forward around, I always felt that playing was particularly passionate...